International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics (3 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• From nature to freight: quantile and time-frequency evidence on biodiversity-shipping market linkages  
  by Hongjun Zeng, Le Yu, Xue Lei, Shenglin Ma 
  Abstract: This paper examines dynamic connectedness and time-frequency co-movement between the Biodiversity Index and seven Baltic shipping indices, extending shipping-environment finance beyond carbon emissions and ESG to biodiversity risk. Using daily data from June 2019 to September 2025, we apply TVP-QVAR frequency connectedness and wavelet coherence methods. Three findings: First, total connectedness rises markedly under extreme market conditions, reaching 64.53% in bearish markets and supporting the contagion hypothesis that correlations strengthen during crises. Second, the biodiversity index is a net short-term risk receiver but becomes a net transmitter over longer horizons, indicating biodiversity risk primarily reaches shipping markets through medium- and long-term channels. Third, wavelet coherence shows substantially stronger long-term than short-term linkages, with connectedness peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022. These findings reveal horizon-dependent transmission of biodiversity risk across global shipping markets and offer implications for diversification.
  Keywords: biodiversity index; shipping markets; TVP-QVAR frequency connectedness; wavelet coherence; systemic risk.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2026.10081174
   
  
• Towards efficient port operations: integrating operational planning and logistics coordination to minimise dwell time at container terminals  
  by Umur Bucak, Mert Hazar, Sezer Akın 
  Abstract: Container terminals are vital for global supply chains. Their efficiency affects the performance of logistics. At terminals, dwell time is a key challenge. Long dwell times may cause congestion and delays. For all these reasons, reducing dwell time improves terminal performance. The aim of this study is to find out what affects dwell time at container terminals. The research used various methods, including semi-structured interviews, to identify factors affecting dwell time and ways to improve it. These factors were then evaluated using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy AHP) and Fuzzy TOPSIS methods. The findings suggest delayed calls, overbooking and empty container stock have the greatest impact on dwell time. In response; improving hinterland efficiency, enhancing warehouse planning, and implementing structured cut-off times are the best ways to address this issue. The study improves understanding of planning and logistics coordination at container terminals and provides a framework to manage dwell time.
  Keywords: container dwell time; container terminals; port performance; operational efficiency; maritime logistics; multi-criteria decision making.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2026.10081969
   
  
• Container throughput forecasting for coordinated operations in a multi-port system: A decision-support framework  
  by Xiaozhen Liang, Dongchi Xing, Qiuling Huang, Mingge Yang 
  Abstract: Accurate container throughput forecasting is essential for coordinated planning in port systems. However, most existing studies either treat ports as isolated time series or model inter-port relationships from a single perspective, limiting forecasting effectiveness in multi-port networks. This study proposes a unified spatiotemporal forecasting framework that integrates heterogeneous inter-port relationships, including geographical proximity, linear co-movement, and nonlinear dependence. These relationships are embedded into a spatiotemporal learning architecture to capture dynamic interactions among ports and temporal demand patterns. An adaptive fusion mechanism is further introduced to adjust the contribution of different relationship structures under varying operational conditions. Empirical results based on monthly throughput data from major Chinese coastal ports show that the proposed framework achieves the strongest aggregate forecasting performance across the seven-port system and remains competitive in an expanded 22-port network, demonstrating its potential to support coordinated multi-port operations.
  Keywords: container throughput forecasting; multi-port system; port operations management; spatiotemporal modelling; reinforcement learning ensemble.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2026.10082035