Globalization and technological advancements in the transport sector have entailed a significant expansion of the maritime and offshore energy industry, while redefining the role of shipping and ports in global and national supply chains. Ports (often urban based) also play a significant role in their hinterland, through on-land business operations including logistics, renewable energy generation, and decommissioning/recycling activities. However, the ports and maritime sector have been identified as lagging behind other fields in terms of both a digital transformation strategy (to monitor, manage, and support decision-making and investment) and their readiness to accommodate technological innovation and sustainable development (especially vis-a-vis carbon emissions reductions) at a time of increasingly stringent environmental requirements in the domain of sustainability and energy efficiency.
As these are strategic objectives for ports to achieve, the North East of England Smart Ports Testbed project, as part of a wider set of engagement activities by key actors in this remit, was developed by a multidisciplinary research team at Northumbria University together with stakeholders from local ports and businesses to tackle specific global-scale challenges at a regional level. Opportunities for sustainable growth, as well as cleaner and integrated logistics were investigated through desktop study and service design action research methods (workshops and interviews). Key research areas which are also embedded into the UK’s Industrial Strategy Grand Challenges in terms of the future of mobility (the optimization of freight and increased safety), artificial intelligence, the data economy (understanding the types of data generated by ports, and how to valorize them), and clean growth (cutting carbon and other emissions/pollution) were explored. Furthermore, this project focus directly connects to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 (“Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure”), 11 (“Affordable and Clean Energy”), and 8 (“Decent Work and Economic Growth”) as well.
The project contributed toward furthering the aims of the wider Smart Ports Testbed initiative by providing valuable insights to determine the focus areas of future technical and organizational solutions to be trialled at the ports in their quest to become smarter ports. The chapter will also provide an outlook on how some of those objectives can be framed and contribute toward increased circular economy efforts.
Challenges and Opportunities for UK Seaports Toward Future Sustainability
The UK’s North East Smart Ports Testbed Case Study
Handbook of Sustainability Science in the Future ; Chapter : 176 ; 805-844
2023-07-29
40 pages
Article/Chapter (Book)
Electronic Resource
English
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