Guest Editors

Assoc. Prof. Kum Fai Yuen, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Prof. Theo Notteboom, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
Prof. Jasmine Siu Lee Lam, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
Prof. Ziaul Haque Munim, University of South-Eastern Norway, Norway

Background

The maritime sector is undergoing a pivotal phase of change. Trade reconfiguration, energy transition, financial tightening, digital integration, and shifting geopolitical alignments are redefining maritime markets, institutions, and strategies. While short-term shocks (e.g., technological, environmental, financial, geopolitical) have drawn attention to vulnerabilities, the more consequential story is the longer-run transformations they catalyse. This includes consolidation and realignment in shipping, platformisation and vertical integration across logistics, governance and regulatory reform in ports, diffusion of green finance and alternative fuels, and evolving labour, skill, and safety dynamics.
This special issue invites contributions that develop new insights and frameworks for contemporary maritime economics. We particularly welcome work that advances theories with visible short-term ramifications for business and society, offers robust empirical evidence, or introduces methodological innovation capable of addressing emerging and complex maritime issues.
Research topics might include (but are not limited to):

• Emerging and disruptive phenomena, such as technological innovation, sustainability transitions, and digitalisation, and their impact on individual, organisational, and system behaviour and performance
• Trade fragmentation, offshoring, and evolving supply-chain geographies
• Competition, alliances, vertical integration, and market-power dynamics
• Freight volatility, risk pricing, derivatives, and capital allocation under uncertainty
• Port governance, corporatisation, and public-private coordination
• Labour markets, human capital, safety, and organisational resilience
• Decarbonisation economics, green corridors, carbon pricing, and green finance
• Digitalisation, data governance, artificial intelligence, automation, and logistics platformisation
• Resilience to physical, cyber, and institutional risks
• Methodological advances: causal identification under shocks, hybrid econometric-machine learning models, game theory, data envelope analysis, behavioural or experimental economics, system dynamics, agent-based models, input-output analysis, and environmental accounting in maritime settings.

Practical Issues

• Abstracts (optional, 200–300 words): Authors may email a fit-check abstract to the Guest Editors by 31 March 2026. (This is optional and non-binding; full papers are welcome without a prior abstract.)
• Full papers: Submit via MEL’s online submission system, selecting the article type (collection) “Special Issue: Contemporary Maritime Economics: Transformations and Emerging Paradigms.” Manuscripts should closely follow MEL’s Instructions for Authors and be accompanied by MEL’s Cover Letter, template of which to be found on the journal’s webpage.
• Language & style: Non-native English authors are encouraged to obtain professional language editing prior to submission.
• IAME 2026 linkage: Presenters are invited to submit extended versions of their conference papers. When submitting to MEL, please indicate if the work was presented at IAME 2026. Submissions are open to non-IAME papers that fit the SI scope.
• Peer review: All submissions will undergo MEL’s double-blind review. The Guest Editors will ensure rigorous screening for fit, novelty, and methodological soundness.

Key Dates

• 31 March 2026: Optional abstract (fit-check) to Guest Editors
• 31 August 2026: Deadline for full paper submission (via MEL system)
• November 2026: Target date for first-round decisions
• January 2027: Target date for revised manuscripts
• March 2027: Final decisions or online-first
• Publication: Prioritised thereafter in coordination with MEL’s production schedule