Open research questions in Maritime Ports and Logistics

What the literature leaves open

• Policy concerning maritime logistics within sea transportation networks have increasingly emphasized the importance transformation, digital infrastructure integration, and governance reform as key drivers of logistics efficiency. Brunila et al. (2021), in “Hindrances in Port Digitalization? in Adoption and Implementation,” argue that maritime logistics policy should prioritize digital interoperability among ports and logistics stakeholders.

  INDONESIA’S MARITIME LOGISTICS POLICY: EXPANDING REGIONAL MARKETS AND ADDRESSING NON-TARIFF CONSTRAINTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA (2020–2024) · 2026 · DOI

• , reliability, experience, cost) have been examined in the context of tanker operations, their application to the container shipping sector—characterized by fundamentally different dynamics such as global trade integration, multimodal logistics, and port connectivity— has not been previously explored. In this respect, the study makes a distinct contribution by filling methodological and sectoral gaps in the literature on maritime logistics provider selection.

  Factors Impacting on the Selection of Ocean Container Shipping Companies Using SWARA and CoCoSo Methods · 2026 · DOI

• Fig. 2: Research methodology flow chart Adapted: Shehu (2024); Shehu and Shehu (2023b), Shehu et al. (2025b) 152 4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Availability and Adequacy of Facilities at the Existing Jalingo Trade Fair Complex The assessment of facilities at the existing Jalingo Trade Fair Complex, as presented in Table 2, revealed substantial infrastructural deficiencies that limit its functional performance. Fourteen (14) essential facilities expected in a standard public building were evaluated using a structured observational checklist based on availability and level of adequacy criteria. The findings indicate that 50% of the required facilities were not available, while 50% were available in some form. However, among the available facilities, only 14.29% were adequate (entrance gates and perimeter fencing), whereas 35.71% were inadequate in terms of size, quality, and functionality. Critical deficiencies include the absence of ramps, walkways, landscaping, parking lots, water supply systems, lighting infrastructure, and a functional powerhouse. The only pavilion (6 m × 20 m), with a seating capacity of approximately 250, is insufficient for large-scale exhibitions and public gatherings. Public conveniences are limited to three toilets serving the entire complex. The fairground remains unpaved and prone to erosion during the rainy season.

  EXPLORING SPACE ADAPTABILITY AND MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF AN INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR COMPLEX FOR TARABA STATE · 2026 · DOI

• Some future paths of investigations were formulated by the authors in their articles. Chinese activities should be summarised and analysed in a broader (global) perspective because it can potentially create ‘a new economic pillar and contributing new policy thinking for economic development’ and a new pattern of economic development to the World (Huang, 2016: 315). There is a need of ‘assessment of the broader geopolitical context that influences investment decisions’ (Voronin, Khorunzhii, 2024: 171). An international level of studies could cover ‘comparing Chinese investment pattern with macroeconomic developmental literature to understand its consequences and compare Chinese activities and strategies against “traditional” aid and investment projects in developing countries’ (Johnston, 2019: 53). Investigations may be related to the domestic (not only the international) level of logistics operations to assess its impact on the country’s socio-economic factors (An et al., 2021: 51036–51037). New economic geography theory can be applied to examine the spillover effects at the regional level with such tools as modelling of different geographic levels (Li et al., 2017: 473; Liu et al., 2023: 50). It is worth assessing the dynamics of social and environmental impact in the area of investment implementation, complex relations and negotiations between project stakeholders, potential and limitations of extending project benefits to poor local people (Gransow, 2015: 285). It was also recommended to adopt a long-term time perspective in the analysis (Wang et al., 2020: 305), to consider both individual cases and the macro perspective as well as to conduct more comprehensive comparative studies (Dunford, Zhigao, Jiashun, 2020: 1700). At a state-level, it would be worthwhile to define how state elites in host countries strike a balance in political trade-offs ‘[…] across the sectoral, spatial and temporal terms […] under given internal and external circumstances’ (Kuik, Rosli, 2023: 53). The object of analysis could become business-government relationships in international business, focusing on multinational enterprises-home country government interactions: ‘it is encouraged to compare the processes and outcomes of government policies toward OFDI among multiple emerging economies, particularly the major ones’ (Luo, Xue, Ha, 2010: 78). There is also a lack of understanding about the impact of the Chinese presence in countries with weak institutions: does it strengthen national institutions? (Bersch, Koivumaeki, 2019: 341) And does it support countries in their socio-political development? Regional-level initiatives should be considered not only from the internal perspective of a host country but also in terms of ‘[…] exogenous changes resulting from international connectivity improvement’ (Zhao, Sun, Webster, 2022: 10).

  Nowoczesne mosty łączące państwa: chińskie zagraniczne inwestycje w infrastrukturę transportową. Przegląd literatury · 2026 · DOI

• in PCS Secondary literature identifies challenges to the adoption of PCSS despite apparent benefits (such as untapped benefits of collaboration). Some studies indicate that these barriers to PCSS implementation have varying levels of access to digital infrastructure at ICDs, no common data formats, user resistance to change, and/or low digital literacy among users, especially in underdeveloped countries (Alagöz et al., 2021; De La Peña Zarzuelo et al., 2020). and about cybersecurity Increased sharing of data due to PCs has raised concerns privacy. Cybersecurity risks are introduced by the increased amount of potential cyberattacks on systems; thus, enhanced cybersecurity may diminish or eliminate future interoperability (Tijan et al., 2009). Other factors dissuading some small logistics providers from adopting PCSS are high upfront expenses and uncertain return on investment (Moros-Daza et al., 2020). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY 508 | P a g e Khushi Pandey, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2026 3(5), 500-512 |Research According to the World Bank (2024), although the progress of India's PCSS1x program has been noteworthy, there continue to be challenges related to achieving full interoperability across the port, ICD, the and private limitations of PKMS implementation suggest that multiple factors impact how PCs are used or will be implemented in the future. logistics systems.

  Role Of Port Community Systems (PCS) In Digitizing Port – ICD Operations · 2026 · DOI

• associated with PCS. HYPOTHESIS 1. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the the Port functioning of concept and Community System (PCS) H0: There is no significant difference in the understanding of PCS concepts and functions among stakeholders. is a significant difference H1: There the understanding of PCS concepts and functions among stakeholders. in 2. To analyze the role of PCS in facilitating the digitization of operations between ports and Inland Container Depots (ICDs). H0: PCS does not significantly facilitate digitization of operations between ports and ICDs. the H1: PCS significantly facilitates the digitization of operations between ports and ICDs. 3. To explore the challenges and limitations associated with PCS. H0: There are no significant challenges or limitations affecting the implementation of PCS. H1: There are significant challenges and limitations affecting the implementation of PCS. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY I. Research Design Using a descriptive research design, this study reviews existing literature, reports and case studies as well as publicly available data to examine how port community systems (PCS) can help improve the automation of service delivery at ports and inland clearance depots (ICD). Descriptive designs are appropriate because they summarize and interpret facts already in place (like historical/archival records) without conducting new surveys. (Tijan et al., 2021) The use of a descriptive research design allows for the reporting and explanation of facts about a situation without manipulating or controlling any aspect of it. It is based on "what is." For example, the use of a PCS provides current information about the adoption of current practices and problems in the PCS context (which could be determined through analyses of preexisting documentation).(Saunders et al., 2019; Moros-Daza et al., 2020) II. Sources of Data Mixed research for this study will use both primary (data collected via structured questionnaires by port officials, ICD operators, freight forwarders and customs representatives) and secondary (government reports, World Bank publications, UNCTAD transport industry journal association guidelines) sources of data. Through the use of both primary and secondary sources, the researcher intends to gather data regarding the implementation of PCS and its effectiveness from those who are involved in this implementation process. reviews; articles; III. Target Population The intended sample population is made up of primary and secondary stakeholders who operate with the assistance of PCS technology. Element: Port Authorities, ICD Managers, Shipping Line agents, Customs Officers & Freight Forwarders Sample Units: Individuals from each of these categories who are familiar with the PCS system and the operational processes that it supports.

  Role Of Port Community Systems (PCS) In Digitizing Port – ICD Operations · 2026 · DOI

• Formalise written SLAs with all CHA partners specifying maximum response windows for shipping bill filing, query resolution, and OOC issuance; quarterly performance scorecards with volume reallocation triggers Build a layered transport vendor ecosystem: primary pool of pre-empanelled operators with committed capacity, secondary digital aggregator platform access, pre-negotiated emergency rate cards Implement mandatory two-stage pre- submission documentation based completeness validation and senior officer crossverification of HS code, gross weight, consignee, and POL before submission Deploy standardised cargo acceptance checklists: calibrated weighbridge, piece- count vs packing list, dimensional measurement, photographic documentation and link to the shipment file systemaudit: R5 Documentation &…

  A Study on the Operational and Documentation Challenges Faced by Freight Forwarders in India: A Quantitative Investigation of an Integrated Failure Architecture · 2026 · DOI

• The following 18 recommendations are organised across five thematic categories and are grounded directly in the study’s empirical findings. Each recommendation is accompanied by its specific evidential rationale to maintain the analytical discipline of connecting intervention to evidence. Table 8.1: Consolidated Evidence-Based Recommendations No.

  A Study on the Operational and Documentation Challenges Faced by Freight Forwarders in India: A Quantitative Investigation of an Integrated Failure Architecture · 2026 · DOI

• The mechanism analysis confirms that AI increases Overseas Sales Ratio (OSR) through mitigation of cross-border information asymmetries, but does not empirically measure the magnitude of this information asymmetry reduction or identify which specific digital network capabilities (real-time market data access, automated trade documentation, cross-border logistics optimization) drive international market expansion in marine firms.

  How artificial intelligence improves the resilience of marine firms: insights from China’s A-share market · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies that AI penetration in traditional marine industries (fisheries, oil/gas extraction, logistics, chemical/metal manufacturing) breaks path dependence and optimizes redundant processes, but does not specify which AI technologies (machine learning algorithms, predictive maintenance systems, autonomous optimization, real-time monitoring) are most effective for each subsector or identify which redundant processes are eliminated.

  How artificial intelligence improves the resilience of marine firms: insights from China’s A-share market · 2026 · DOI

• The study analyzes AI's impact on firm resilience using panel data from China's A-share listed marine firms (2012-2023), but does not examine whether these findings generalize to unlisted marine enterprises, state-owned marine corporations, or marine firms in non-Chinese contexts with different regulatory environments and technological adoption patterns. Validation across heterogeneous firm ownership structures and international marine markets is needed.

  How artificial intelligence improves the resilience of marine firms: insights from China’s A-share market · 2026 · DOI

• The mechanism analysis demonstrates that AI reduces Management Expense Ratio (MER) and increases Asset Turnover Ratio (ATO) and Overseas Sales Ratio (OSR), but the paper does not examine potential interaction effects between these three pathways or their relative contribution weights to overall firm resilience. Future studies should decompose the resilience improvement into quantified proportions attributable to transaction cost reduction versus operational efficiency gains versus geographic diversification in marine firms.

  How artificial intelligence improves the resilience of marine firms: insights from China’s A-share market · 2026 · DOI

• The heterogeneity analysis reveals divergent AI empowerment patterns between emerging and traditional marine industries (emerging: insignificant coefficient; traditional: significant positive coefficient at p=0.007), but the paper does not quantify the specific digitalization threshold at which AI marginal utility transitions from high to constrained. Research should establish the precise initial digitalization level breakpoint for emerging marine sectors (biomedicine, high-end equipment, new energy, electronics) where AI adoption ceases to enhance resilience.

  How artificial intelligence improves the resilience of marine firms: insights from China’s A-share market · 2026 · DOI

• The study identifies that AI's resilience-enhancing effect is substantially amplified only in marine firms with digitally-literate leaders, but the specific mechanisms through which leader technological knowledge moderates AI implementation remain unexamined. Future research should empirically isolate whether this moderation operates through strategic decision-making quality, risk assessment capability, or organizational change management competency in marine supply chain contexts.

  How artificial intelligence improves the resilience of marine firms: insights from China’s A-share market · 2026 · DOI

• The paper proposes that supportive policy environments and regulatory frameworks foster experience in moderately qualified personnel but does not specify what policy mechanisms, regulatory structures, or enabling conditions would be most effective. Future research should design and test context-specific policy interventions—such as structured mentorship programs, phased responsibility gradation, or competency-based advancement criteria—within Malaysian port privatization initiatives to measure their impact on officer performance and retention.

  Capacity building challenges in public-private partnerships: institutional insights from port privatization case in Malaysia · 2026 · DOI

• The study documents correlations between inadequate training budgets and other capacity constraints but does not empirically test or model the causal mechanisms linking resource constraints to specific capacity outcomes. Future research should employ longitudinal analysis or structural equation modeling to determine whether increasing training budgets in port PPP contexts directly reduces implementation delays and improves monitoring-phase performance metrics.

  Capacity building challenges in public-private partnerships: institutional insights from port privatization case in Malaysia · 2026 · DOI

• The paper identifies a 'knowledge gap' between public and private sectors that complicates capacity building interventions, but does not specify the precise nature, magnitude, or measurable dimensions of this gap. Future research should operationalize and quantify this knowledge gap through pre- and post-training competency assessments in port PPP projects, comparing skill deficits in specific technical, managerial, and relational competencies between public sector personnel and private sector counterparts.

  Capacity building challenges in public-private partnerships: institutional insights from port privatization case in Malaysia · 2026 · DOI

• The research is confined to a single port privatization case (Northport Malaysia), limiting generalizability across multiple Malaysian ports or other developing economies. Future research should conduct comparative case studies across at least 3-5 different ports within Malaysia and the ASEAN region to identify contextual differences in capacity building challenges and validate whether the identified systemic resource limitations and knowledge gaps between public and private sectors are replicable across different port settings.

  Capacity building challenges in public-private partnerships: institutional insights from port privatization case in Malaysia · 2026 · DOI

• The study identifies that capacity-related constraints during the monitoring phase warrant further investigation, but the monitoring phase was not empirically examined with the same depth as implementation and execution phases. Future research should specifically investigate which monitoring-stage competencies are most critical in port PPP contexts and how monitoring-related capacity gaps manifest during operational phases of port privatization.

  Capacity building challenges in public-private partnerships: institutional insights from port privatization case in Malaysia · 2026 · DOI

• The article proposes policy recommendations to address the identified gaps in the literature of transshipment hub functions for the NSR around the following axes: the operational and design features of transshipment terminals; the geopolitical and governance requirements of developing deep-water transshipment terminals; funding possibilities for the operation of transshipment terminals; and the development of a port system that is useful for the whole Arctic.

  Arctic transshipment hub planning along the Northern Sea Route: A systematic literature review and policy implications of Arctic port infrastructure · 2022 · DOI

• However, the unpredictable characteristic of terrorist attacks might not be applicable to the case of a ports shutdown such as the one caused by the lockout of September–October 2002.

  The State‐by‐State Economic Impacts of the 2002 Shutdown of the Los Angeles–Long Beach Ports · 2008 · DOI

• Traditional ills found in the field of transportation are present in this development: large capital investment requirements, lack of standardization, uncertainty in the legal sector involving questions of carrier liability, bill-of-lading provisions, and customs inspection, difficulties in the labor-management area due to opposition by labor to containerization, and customer indifference.

  CONTAINERIZATION: A PANDORA'S BOX IN REVERSE? · 1972

• Future research could address these issues by examining actual import and export dynamics at a finer spatial resolution, for example through an integrated “export city unit-port-import city unit” analytical framework.

  Determinants of the comprehensive capabilities of China’s container ports: a spatio-temporal analysis · 2026 · DOI

• It addresses the research gap in understanding organizational coordination challenges beyond physical infrastructure vulnerabilities in strategically significant logistics and transport corridors, with broader implications for similar contexts worldwide.

  From disruption to collaboration: GenAI-driven value in the face of geopolitical challenges · 2026 · DOI

• Future research should address these limitations by incorporating labor cost data and hinterland connectivity metrics to provide a holistic view of supply chain integration. Several limitations of this study must be acknowl- edged to contextualize these findings.

  The Effect of Liner Shipping Connectivity on Container Ports’ Efficiency in The Middle East: Data Envelopment Analysis Approach · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Maritime Ports and Logistics

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• Challenges and Opportunities of Maritime Transport in the Post-Epidemic Era · Journal of Marine Science and Engineering · 2024 · 48 citations
• National port competitiveness: implications for India · Management Decision · 2008 · 46 citations
• Arctic transshipment hub planning along the Northern Sea Route: A systematic literature review and policy implications of Arctic port infrastructure · Marine Policy · 2022 · 44 citations
• The State‐by‐State Economic Impacts of the 2002 Shutdown of the Los Angeles–Long Beach Ports · Growth and Change · 2008 · 39 citations
• Time series forecasting methods for the Baltic dry index · Journal of Forecasting · 2021 · 39 citations

Most recent work

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