Short answer

Integrate strategies for carbon-neutral fuels, energy efficiency, and optimized vessel design into the development of domestic shipping solutions, while considering the role of ports as energy hubs.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Sustainability (2025)
Method: Systematic Review
Evidence: Strong effect

Domestic and short-sea shipping sectors, despite their significant contribution to emissions, offer substantial opportunities for decarbonization through a combination of fuel, technology, and port-based strategies. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Sustainability. Using Systematic review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Integrate strategies for carbon-neutral fuels, energy efficiency, and optimized vessel design into the development of domestic shipping solutions, while considering the role of ports as energy hubs.

Study

Resource ManagementNew This WeekStrong effect

Decarbonizing Domestic Shipping: A Pathway to Sustainable Maritime Operations

Sustainability · 2025

Key Findings

01Domestic and short-sea shipping contribute significantly to maritime emissions but are often overlooked in decarbonization efforts.
02Key strategies include adopting carbon-neutral fuels, improving energy efficiency through technology, and optimizing vessel design.
03Ports can act as crucial clean energy hubs, supporting the transition.
04Integration into national action plans and supportive regulatory frameworks are essential for successful implementation.

Application

Design takeaway

Integrate strategies for carbon-neutral fuels, energy efficiency, and optimized vessel design into the development of domestic shipping solutions, while considering the role of ports as energy hubs.

How to apply

When designing or retrofitting vessels for domestic or short-sea routes, research and incorporate the latest advancements in carbon-neutral fuels, energy-saving technologies, and hull/propulsion optimization. Engage with port authorities to understand future energy infrastructure needs.

Project actions

01When researching alternative fuels, consider their availability and infrastructure requirements for domestic routes.
02Investigate existing energy efficiency technologies and assess their suitability for smaller vessel designs.

Method & Evidence

AimWhat are the key operational, technical, and port-based strategies for decarbonizing domestic and short-sea shipping in emerging maritime regions, and what are the associated opportunities and challenges?

MethodSystematic Review

ProcedureThe study systematically reviewed existing literature on decarbonization pathways for domestic and short-sea shipping, focusing on operational, technical, and port-based strategies, and analyzed their applicability to emerging maritime regions.

ContextMaritime industry, specifically domestic and short-sea shipping in emerging maritime regions (SIDSs and LDCs).

Variables

IV["Adoption of carbon-neutral fuels","Implementation of energy-efficiency technologies","Vessel design optimization","Port infrastructure development"]

DV["Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction","Energy resilience","Economic viability of shipping operations"]

CV["Voyage activity","Operational characteristics of domestic fleets","Regulatory frameworks"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge.
+Transdisciplinary approach considers multiple facets of decarbonization.

Limitations

The availability and cost of new fuels and technologies can be a significant barrier for smaller operators.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the findings depends on the comprehensiveness of the systematic review and the quality of the included studies. Validity is enhanced by the transdisciplinary approach, but specific regional applicability may require further localized research.

Think critically

To what extent can the proposed decarbonization strategies be realistically implemented in regions with limited financial resources and existing infrastructure?

Design Principles

"Holistic system design considering fuel, technology, operations, and infrastructure is crucial for achieving sustainability goals in maritime transport."

Understanding and implementing decarbonization strategies in domestic shipping is critical for emerging maritime regions to meet climate goals and enhance energy resilience. This requires a holistic approach that considers operational, technical, and infrastructural elements.

What This Means for Your Design

Smaller ships that travel along coasts create a lot of pollution, but there are ways to make them cleaner, like using different fuels and making them more efficient, and ports can help by providing clean energy.

How to use in your project

1.Use findings on fuel types and energy efficiency technologies to justify design choices for a more sustainable vessel.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study highlights the critical need to decarbonize domestic and short-sea shipping, identifying carbon-neutral fuels, energy-efficiency technologies, and optimized vessel design as key strategies. The research emphasizes the role of ports as clean energy hubs and the necessity of integrated national planning and supportive regulations for successful implementation in emerging maritime regions.

Source

Sustainability

Decarbonizing Domestic and Short-Sea Shipping: A Systematic Review and Transdisciplinary Pathway for Emerging Maritime Regions

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about decarbonizing domestic shipping: a pathway to sustainable maritime operations?: Integrate strategies for carbon-neutral fuels, energy efficiency, and optimized vessel design into the development of domestic shipping solutions, while considering the role of ports as energy hubs. Evidence: Sustainability (2025).
Why does "Decarbonizing Domestic Shipping: A Pathway to Sustainable Maritime Operations" matter for design?: Understanding and implementing decarbonization strategies in domestic shipping is critical for emerging maritime regions to meet climate goals and enhance energy resilience. This requires a holistic approach that considers operational, technical, and infrastructural elements.
How can designers apply this research?: Integrate strategies for carbon-neutral fuels, energy efficiency, and optimized vessel design into the development of domestic shipping solutions, while considering the role of ports as energy hubs.
What were the main findings?: Domestic and short-sea shipping contribute significantly to maritime emissions but are often overlooked in decarbonization efforts.. Key strategies include adopting carbon-neutral fuels, improving energy efficiency through technology, and optimizing vessel design.. Ports can act as crucial clean energy hubs, supporting the transition.. Integration into national action plans and supportive regulatory frameworks are essential for successful implementation.
What research method was used?: Systematic Review.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Sustainability.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing or retrofitting vessels for domestic or short-sea routes, research and incorporate the latest advancements in carbon-neutral fuels, energy-saving technologies, and hull/propulsion optimization. Engage with port authorities to understand future energy infrastructure needs.
What are the limitations?: The review's focus on emerging maritime regions may limit generalizability to highly developed shipping markets. Specific regional economic and infrastructural constraints were not exhaustively detailed.