Call for Papers: contribute to the MARTRA Special Issue on Automated and Resilient Waterborne Transport
- 10/07/2026
Researchers and innovators working on the future of waterborne transport are invited to submit their latest research to the Maritime Transport Research (MARTRA) Special Issue on “Key-enabling technologies for automated, economically viable, and resilient waterborne transport.”
The Special Issue brings together cutting-edge research supporting the transition towards safer, smarter and more sustainable maritime transport systems. As Europe advances its ambitions for climate neutrality and connected multimodal mobility, innovations in autonomous shipping, digital logistics and resilient transport operations are becoming increasingly important.
The Special Issue focuses on the technologies and concepts that will enable the next generation of waterborne transport, highlighting the integration of autonomous vessel technologies, intelligent logistics, digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that support the deployment of Short-Sea Shipping (SSS) and Inland Waterway Transport (IWT).
Topics of interest
Submissions are encouraged on a wide range of topics, including:
- Smart logistics and digital supply chains
- Modelling, optimisation and decision-support methods
- Policy, regulation and technology qualification procedures
- Logistics solutions for Inland Waterway Transport (IWT)
- Logistics solutions for Short-Sea Shipping (SSS)
- Other key-enabling technologies supporting automated, resilient and economically viable waterborne transport
Why publish in this Special Issue?
Publishing in the MARTRA Special Issue offers researchers increased visibility and impact:
- Special Issue articles are published together on ScienceDirect, making them easier for the research community to discover.
- Articles published in Special Issues are downloaded twice as often during their first 24 months compared with papers published in regular issues.
- They receive, on average, 20% more citations within the first two years after publication.
- Every submission undergoes a rigorous peer-review process involving at least two independent expert reviewers, ensuring high scientific quality, originality and novelty.
Submission information
Submission deadline: 1 September 2026
All manuscripts must be original, written in English, and must not be under review elsewhere. Papers should be submitted through the MARTRA online submission system.
During the submission process, authors should select the manuscript article type “SI: Automated Waterborne” to ensure their paper is considered for this Special Issue.
For detailed submission requirements, please consult the MARTRA Guide for Authors.
Interested in contributing? Visit the Special Issue page for full details and submission instructions:
