Call for papers: Special Issue on “Applications of New Technologies in Maritime Transport, Ports and Global Supply Chains”

Read the full Call for Papers here.

Guest Editors:
Haiying Jia, Norwegian School of Economics
Theodore Syriopoulos, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Panagiotis Trakadas, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Ying Xie, Cranfield School of Management

Background:
Technologies have always played a pivotal role in the advancement of the maritime sector, shaping the way we navigate, operate, and manage our seas and infrastructures. Over the last decades, in particular, the emergence of groundbreaking innovations has brought about an unprecedented transformation, such as Artificial Intelligence, big data analytics, digital twins, blockchain, autonomous systems, the Internet of Things (IoT), etc. These advancements are not only enhancing operational efficiency but also promoting sustainability and safety, marking a significant leap forward for the industry.

However, the adoption of innovation and technology present considerable challenges for maritime stakeholders, with regard not only to technical expertise but also integration complexity, data privacy, compliance and economic viability. Factors such as high implementation costs, the need for human skills, cybersecurity concerns, and resistance to change often impede the integration of these innovations. Adopting such technologies and taking advantage of their application requires a remarkable effort towards developing the proper strategies, frameworks, and policies that will facilitate a smoother transition toward a digitally empowered maritime ecosystem.

This Call for Papers invites scholars, researchers, and industry practitioners to submit original research papers that would make significant contribution to the maritime literature and industry related to the impact of emerging technologies in the maritime sector.

Practical Issues
Abstracts (200-300 words) should be submitted to MEL ( haralambides@ese.eur.nl ) by May 31, 2025. Following positive feedback on the abstract, full papers should be submitted to the above email by September 30, 2025. In case of difficulty in respecting the submission deadline, the guest editors would appreciate knowing in advance for purposes of production planning. Finally, non-native English authors should submit their typescript for linguistics review, preferably by a professional English editor. Submissions should respect closely MEL’s ‘instructions to authors’ to be found on the journal’s website. IAME25 presenters: Upon submission of your abstract to the conference, please indicate whether you would like your paper to be considered for this special issue. Non-IAME25 researchers are welcome to submit too, keeping in mind the following key dates.

Key Dates

• September 30, 2025: Deadline for full paper submission

• November 30, 2025: Referee reports to authors

• January 31, 2026: Revisions returned to editors

• February 28, 2026: Editorial decision or request of second revision.

• Publication: Prioritized, as soon as possible thereafter

For further information, please contact the editors at: haiying.jia@nhh.no; tsiriop@pms.uoa.gr; ptrakadas@pms.uoa.gr; ying.xie@cranfield.ac.uk.