Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope

The maritime transport industry contributes around 3% to worldwide CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, with 2023 emissions projected to be approximately 58 billion tons. Consequently, to attain decarbonization objectives, the implementation of effective reduction measures in maritime operations, e...

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Main Authors: Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh, Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:World
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/47
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author Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh
Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero
author_facet Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh
Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero
author_sort Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh
collection DOAJ
description The maritime transport industry contributes around 3% to worldwide CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, with 2023 emissions projected to be approximately 58 billion tons. Consequently, to attain decarbonization objectives, the implementation of effective reduction measures in maritime operations, especially at seaports as significant contributors, is essential. On the other hand, seaport operations are categorized into two main areas: land logistics, encompassing cargo handling, storage, customs processing, and inland transportation, and maritime logistics, which includes vessel traffic management, berth allocation, cargo loading and unloading, and fuel and maintenance services. While land logistics’ decarbonization has been extensively studied, maritime logistics operations, accounting for about 60% of port CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, remain underexplored. Their progress relies on regulations, cleaner fuels, and digital solutions; yet high costs and slow adoption pose significant challenges. As a result, this study employed PRISMA-ScR methodology to select relevant research resources and validate global reports from international organizations, enhancing transparency and providing practitioners and experts with a comprehensive analysis of seaport maritime emissions, as well as decarbonization initiatives. This study analyzes the future trajectory of the initiative based on current data, evaluating its potential benefits and systematically reviewing recent literature. It explores decarbonization strategies in maritime operations, emphasizing regulations, cleaner fuels, and digital solutions while highlighting challenges such as high costs and slow adoption. Key issues examined include maritime border delineation, infrastructure constraints, technological advancements, regulatory barriers, and the opportunities that decarbonized seaports offer to ports and their surrounding regions.
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spelling doaj-art-961f0804de7f47bba66cf7e9ff8168df2025-08-20T03:29:39ZengMDPI AGWorld2673-40602025-04-01624710.3390/world6020047Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding HopeSeyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh0Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero1School of Maritime Science, University of Gibraltar, Campus Europa Point, Gibraltar GX11 1AA, UKInstitute for the Future of Education, School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, MexicoThe maritime transport industry contributes around 3% to worldwide CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, with 2023 emissions projected to be approximately 58 billion tons. Consequently, to attain decarbonization objectives, the implementation of effective reduction measures in maritime operations, especially at seaports as significant contributors, is essential. On the other hand, seaport operations are categorized into two main areas: land logistics, encompassing cargo handling, storage, customs processing, and inland transportation, and maritime logistics, which includes vessel traffic management, berth allocation, cargo loading and unloading, and fuel and maintenance services. While land logistics’ decarbonization has been extensively studied, maritime logistics operations, accounting for about 60% of port CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, remain underexplored. Their progress relies on regulations, cleaner fuels, and digital solutions; yet high costs and slow adoption pose significant challenges. As a result, this study employed PRISMA-ScR methodology to select relevant research resources and validate global reports from international organizations, enhancing transparency and providing practitioners and experts with a comprehensive analysis of seaport maritime emissions, as well as decarbonization initiatives. This study analyzes the future trajectory of the initiative based on current data, evaluating its potential benefits and systematically reviewing recent literature. It explores decarbonization strategies in maritime operations, emphasizing regulations, cleaner fuels, and digital solutions while highlighting challenges such as high costs and slow adoption. Key issues examined include maritime border delineation, infrastructure constraints, technological advancements, regulatory barriers, and the opportunities that decarbonized seaports offer to ports and their surrounding regions.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/47maritimeportsdecarbonizationlogisticssustainabilityshipping
spellingShingle Seyed Behbood Issa-Zadeh
Claudia Lizette Garay-Rondero
Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope
World
maritime
ports
decarbonization
logistics
sustainability
shipping
title Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope
title_full Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope
title_fullStr Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope
title_full_unstemmed Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope
title_short Decarbonizing Seaport Maritime Traffic: Finding Hope
title_sort decarbonizing seaport maritime traffic finding hope
topic maritime
ports
decarbonization
logistics
sustainability
shipping
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/6/2/47
work_keys_str_mv AT seyedbehboodissazadeh decarbonizingseaportmaritimetrafficfindinghope
AT claudializettegarayrondero decarbonizingseaportmaritimetrafficfindinghope