Impacts of Performance Prediction on Sustainable Propulsion in Maritime Transportation

Answer

Impacts of Performance Prediction on Sustainable Propulsion in Maritime Transportation

Introduction/ Background

Marine transport has been one of the vital supply chains making 80 percent of the number of products traded globally as well as 70 percent of the value goods transacted around the world (Orihara & Tsujimoto, 2018, p.782). The increased use of marine transport has come with various challenges such as high fuel use, and greenhouse gas emissions (Trodden et al., 2015, p.75) As such, players in the industry has delved into various ways in which they can use technology to ensure sustainable propulsion and hence reduce emissions and energy consumption. According to Lu et al. (2015, p.18), some of the mechanisms which have been proposed as effective in sustainable propulsion include innovative propulsion, resistance traction, and ship performance prediction. Apart from greater fuel efficiency, sustainable propulsion has been found to improve comfort through reduced propeller-induced vibrations and noise and reduced wear and tear.

According to Lu et al. (2015, p.18), sustainable propulsion is defined as the act of practicing the improved technological methods in ships that facilitate the good performance of the ships. These good practices are grouped in various categories depending on the rightfulness of the technology that can either reduce pollution or have a positive impact on marine transport. Today, reduction of power within 5 to 40 percent depends on the area of operation as well as the ship type (Zhang et al., 2016, p.1171). These can far better improve the hydraulic performance of different kinds of ships. Companies like APM-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company, COSCO (China Ocean Shipping Company), and ONE (Ocean Network Express have devised technologies that improve on sustainable propulsion in their ships. The government can use legislative measures to enhance sustainable propulsion in ships such as providing supportive business environment that has better innovative and technology-supported programs. They can also improve the infrastructural networks by integrating cost-effective public marine transport. Despite various studies done on establishing the various mechanisms for ensuring sustainable propulsion, only a few have focused on performance prediction as an approach towards sustainable propulsion.

Aims

The main aim of this study is to explore the impact of performance prediction on the sustainability of ships in the marine transport industry and recommend ways that it could be effectively adopted to ensure a safer and cleaner marine environment.

Objectives

1. To explore the extent to which performance prediction has been adopted in the marine transportation industry.
2. To Assess the impact of performance prediction mechanisms on the enhancement of ships’ energy efficacy and reduction of emissions.
3. To evaluate legislative influence over sustainable performance in the marine transportation industry.

Research Questions

1. What are the impacts of Performance Prediction mechanisms in the enhancement of ships’ energy efficacy and reduction of emissions?
2. What areas need improvement to enhance Performance Prediction on Sustainable Propulsion in Maritime Transportation?
3. How can access to technological milestones and innovations enhance Performance Prediction on Sustainable Propulsion in Maritime Transportation?

The table below shows the time line for the proposed study with completed work and the work in progress.

Table 1: Timeline for the proposed research

Methodology

This study proposes to use qualitative methodology in the quest to achieve the aims and objectives. The proposed study will rely on both primary and secondary data. Since the secondary data could be subject to bias, the primary data will supplement such biases.

Secondary Data

In this case, data collected from secondary sources by various scholars and articles that are relevant to maritime transportation. The information collected from the secondary data sources will be integrated with primary data from the qualitative survey questionnaires to answer the research questions. Studies by Lu et al. (2015) and Orihara and Tsujimoto (2018, p.783) have been conducted to investigate different scenarios that include the future challenges that marine transport may face, the rate at which pollution has been increasing from the propulsion of marine vessel engines and the operational risk assessment models for marine vessels. Canale et al. (2010, p.1904), examined the sustainability of marine transport through control of tethered airfoils. Tethered airfoils can provide viable marine transportation when applied with controlled systems. Such articles will aid the researcher in identifying the best control measures that could be taken to enhance sustainable marine transport. The advantage associated with secondary data to be used in this research is that it will save time and will provide guidelines for areas that require improvements in maritime transportation (Zhang et al., 2016, p.1171).

Primary Data

Primary data for the proposed research will come from from open-ended survey questionnaires will be used in the proposed study. In specific, the research participants who consist of experts in marine transport and especially environmentalists concerned with sustainable propulsion will be surveyed to establish their views on ways performance prediction impacts sustainable propulsion. The instruments to be used in data collection will be unstructured interview questionnaires. The use of unstructured interviews is based on the fact that since the respondents will not be restricted to respond in a certain manner, they can air their vies and provide explanations for their perspectives (Peters & Halcomb, 2015, p.6). Additionally, unstructured interviews are comfortable, flexible and very flexible and interactive (McIntosh & Morse, 2015, p.50; Brinkmann, 2014, p.277). Some of the questions that ill be asked to the participants include- what do you think about sustainable propulsion in the marine transport industry? Do you think that sustainable propulsion can be achieved? What is the impact of performance prediction on sustainable propulsion?

Data Analysis

Data obtained from the secondary sources and the secondary sources will be analyzed using a thematic analysis. In specific, patterns/themes will be identified within the qualitative data collected. From the close observation of the two datasets, common themes will be identified and then an analysis made. According to Clarke & Braun (2014, p.6626), the use of a thematic analysis has the advantage of theoretical freedom whereby it provides the researcher with high flexibility to modify the analysis based on the needs of the study and ultimately provide a detailed, rich, and complex account of data. Vaismoradi et al. (2016, p.70) add that the vast amount of flexibility enables the researcher to concentrate on datasets which are relevant to the current study.

Research Approach

The research will deploy an inductive approach which will seeks to explore literature sources and views of experts in the marine transport industry and then generate a new theory on the relationship between performance prediction and sustainable propulsion in the marine industry. The use of an inductive approach is pegged on the nature of the aim of the study which is exploratory in nature (Johnston, 2014, p.206). In specific, through the exploration of various scholarly article, the researcher will be able to reach conclusions and develop a theory which seeks to explain the impact of performance prediction on the sustainability of ships in the marine transport industry and recommend ways that it could be effectively adopted to ensure a safer and cleaner marine environment. As such, an inductive approach is the most appropriate to provide answers to the research questions and achieve the aims and objectives of the study.

Research Significance and Justification

This research will be very significant to various factions that affect marine transport. One of those impacts that the marine transportation system that has struggled to address are the impacts of emissions from propulsions du to marine transportation. Marine lives have faced difficult challenges that threaten their sustainability, and this study aims to address performance prediction in the marine industry to ensure clean shipping. Additionally, the research will benefit the marine transport industry by addressing various methods that can be used to enhance water vessel performance through the use of better batteries that facilitate conservation of energy during shipping operations. The entire transport industry will benefit through the analysis of the future expected improvements that boost the marine transportation by providing a set of technology and innovation predictions that can enhance of Performance Prediction on Sustainable Propulsion in Maritime Transportation.

Moreover, the research will provide recommendations on how to improve Performance Prediction on Sustainable Propulsion in Maritime Transportation. These recommendations can help in reducing the rate of emissions generated from propulsions by water vessel propellers. As such, this study will vital in ensuring not only performance sustainability but also the protection of marine operations that could lead to pollution of water and the environment in specific areas. The design of the propeller structure determines the speed at which the water vessel travels. In enhancing performance prediction on sustainable propulsion in marine transport, the propeller strength is very paramount in contributing to the trips that water vessel made from one seaport to the other. Many factors gear performance, and unless combined efforts in evaluating the most appropriate are made, then performance prediction would be underestimated. This research provides a set of factors that sum up to the performance prediction on sustainable propulsion in marine transport by giving a clear recommendation on what best suits specific seaports.

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