<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>TRB Publications Index</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/</link><atom:link href="http://pubsindex.trb.org/common/TRIS Suite/feeds/rss.aspx?s=PHNlYXJjaD48cGFyYW1zPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJzdWJqZWN0aWQiIHZhbHVlPSIxNzc0IiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJsb2NhdGlvbiIgdmFsdWU9IjIiIC8%2BPHBhcmFtIG5hbWU9InN1YmplY3Rsb2dpYyIgdmFsdWU9Im9yIiAvPjxwYXJhbSBuYW1lPSJ0ZXJtc2xvZ2ljIiB2YWx1ZT0ib3IiIC8%2BPC9wYXJhbXM%2BPGZpbHRlcnMgLz48cmFuZ2VzIC8%2BPHNvcnRzPjxzb3J0IGZpZWxkPSJwdWJsaXNoZWQiIG9yZGVyPSJkZXNjIiAvPjwvc29ydHM%2BPHBlcnNpc3RzPjxwZXJzaXN0IG5hbWU9InJhbmdldHlwZSIgdmFsdWU9InB1Ymxpc2hlZGRhdGUiIC8%2BPC9wZXJzaXN0cz48L3NlYXJjaD4%3D" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /><description></description><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright © 2015. National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.</copyright><docs>http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss</docs><managingEditor>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</managingEditor><webMaster>tris-trb@nas.edu (Bill McLeod)</webMaster><image><title>TRB Publications Index</title><url>http://pubsindex.trb.org/Images/PageHeader-wTitle.png</url><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/</link></image><item><title>Digitalization of Maritime Transportation Disputes: Legal Harmonization and Procedural Gains through Online Dispute Resolution</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2706171</link><description><![CDATA[The maritime sector faces increasing pressure to modernize dispute resolution systems as digitalization exposes known gaps in enforceability, procedural consistency, contractual comprehension, and cross-border risk, while also introducing uncertainties linked to emerging technological and legal challenges. This study evaluates the functionality of current maritime resolution systems and the limited uptake of the Rotterdam Rules—despite their objective to provide legal certainty and uniformity for multimodal carriage since 2009—highlighting their relevance to digital processes. It situates online dispute resolution (ODR) within maritime law by examining doctrinal compatibility with admiralty jurisprudence and established arbitration frameworks, including high-court interpretations of party autonomy, fairness, and evidence standards. The research adopts an institutional–organizational perspective to position the proposed political-institutional paradigm within broader public, private, and compliance-governance structures that guide system integrity and mitigate risks of noncompliance and embedded bias. It clarifies jurisdictional limits and liability transitions along end-to-end transport chains to support structured, platform-ready ODR pathways for multimodal disputes. The analysis also notes that existing treaty frameworks do not preclude the use of electronic processes, offering interpretive space for digital adjudication. The model emphasizes coordinated standard-setting by the International Maritime Organization, the Baltic and International Maritime Council, and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law to ensure neutral, legally harmonized, and technically reliable ODR protocols. In line with cooperative principles reflected in instruments such as the Law of the Sea Convention, this study affirms ODR as a complementary and forward-looking mechanism. Analysis of 194 maritime cases shows ODR can yield nonarbitrary, efficient, and cost-effective outcomes, complementing the gradual evolution of instruments such as the Rotterdam Rules.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 10:48:02 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2706171</guid></item><item><title>Classification of Commercial Vessel Activity from Automatic Identification System Records</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2704066</link><description><![CDATA[Automatic identification system (AIS) data are used in a myriad of applications related to marine vessel activity, including emissions modeling efforts. The classification of a vessel’s operating mode (i.e., hotelling, anchorage, maneuvering, and transit) is of relevance to such analyses to accurately estimate emissions, but is not reliably provided in the raw data owing to human error and thus must be inferred. Previous works have identified vessel operating mode by using supervised machine learning, applying speed and engine load factor corrections, or incorporating external datasets (i.e., shapefiles) to geospatially designate anchorage and hotelling sites. Rather than relying on external datasets, we propose a method to classify vessel activity into operating modes using only the speed, heading, and position features in AIS data. To accomplish this, we leverage a combination of comparative segment-wise tiered filtering and unsupervised machine learning techniques (i.e., K-means and DBSCAN [density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise] clustering algorithms). The results at the port level for ocean-going vessels displayed clear separation between the behavior characteristics of each operating mode. Furthermore, the method demonstrated improved accuracy for identifying vessel activities over simply using the AIS-supplied fields or shapefile geofences.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 09:09:18 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2704066</guid></item><item><title>Integrated Container Slot Allocation and Automated Stacking Crane Scheduling in Automated Container Terminals with Limited Buffers</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2703736</link><description><![CDATA[This paper investigates the integrated scheduling of automated stacking cranes (ASCs) and container slot allocation in automated container terminals (ACTs) with limited buffer capacity. A hybrid stacking strategy based on time windows is proposed, and a bi-objective mixed-integer programming model is developed, considering automated guided vehicles and truck buffer capacities, ASC safety distances, and handshake area operations. An enhanced non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II with tabu search (NSGA-II-TS) is designed, with parameters optimized via sensitivity analysis. Experiment results show that comparisons with an exact mixed-integer linear programming solver validate the solution quality of the proposed approach, and that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms benchmark heuristic methods in generating high-quality Pareto-optimal solutions. Case studies reveal that dynamically adjusting handshake area locations and setting buffer capacity to six units effectively balance container flow and operational costs. The proposed approach is also validated against two alternative scheduling strategies, demonstrating superior effectiveness. This research provides new strategies and a robust method for improving the operational efficiency of ACTs under buffer constraints.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 12:15:36 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2703736</guid></item><item><title>Dry Bulk Freight Rate Prediction and Interpretive Analysis: Transformer-Based Hybrid Model with Domain Adaptation</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2701382</link><description><![CDATA[Shipping is vital to global trade but the dry bulk market faces high volatility because of complex factors like economic conditions and geopolitics. Traditional models struggle to capture nonlinear rate fluctuations and offer interpretability. To overcome this, our study integrates shipping, financial, and commodity data. Using the Maximal Information Coefficient (MIC) algorithm, 4,281 time series (over 4.53 million points) were selected to pre-train a general maritime time series model (MTS) based on the Transformer. A fine-tuning dataset of 248 high-MIC series (&gt;0.2) and five binary event indicators (over 0.073 million points) was then used for domain adaptation, creating DA-MTS. To better model short-term changes, a long short-term memory (LSTM) network with Grey Wolf Optimization was applied to DA-MTS residuals, yielding a hybrid DA-MTS+LSTM model. Empirical results show DA-MTS+LSTM achieves high accuracy in forecasting the Baltic Dry Index (MAE = 0.16, RMSE = 0.21, MAPE = 5.26%), the Baltic Capesize Index (MAE = 0.21, RMSE = 0.27, MAPE = 6.67%), and the Baltic Panamax Index (MAE = 0.16, RMSE = 0.20, MAPE = 5.12%). The study also analyzes the short- and long-term impacts of exogenous variables and sudden events. This work enhances prediction accuracy and stability while extending Transformer applications to time series analysis, offering robust theoretical and practical decision-making support.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 17:01:53 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2701382</guid></item><item><title>Optimizing Terminal and Vessel Selection for Shore Power Deployment: Case Study at the Port of Houston</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2694547</link><description><![CDATA[The maritime industry has a substantial impact on the environment and public health, particularly through ship operations and port-related activities. Shore power (SP) offers a promising solution by allowing docked ships to connect to local electrical grids, thereby reducing auxiliary engine usage during hotelling. One of the key challenges to SP adoption is the substantial amount of investment required from both port authorities and ship owners or operators. In this study, an optimization framework is developed to allocate a limited budget for SP deployment at terminals and subsidies, to encourage commercial ship retrofitting to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of SP. The framework takes account of the perspectives of ship owners and operators, port authorities, and the government to reflect the interactions in their decision-making. The framework is applied to the Port of Houston, based on commercial ship hotelling activities at its public terminals in 2022. The results demonstrate that, with an annualized budget of $5.5 million, up to 50% of SP-eligible hotelling activities can be powered by SP; this can generate substantial environmental and economic benefits. Additionally, the results indicate that the cost of SP electricity to ship operators plays a critical role in balancing economic incentives between ports and ship owners in the adoption of SP. Sensitivity analysis confirms the framework’s robustness to several key environmental and economic factors and assumptions. The proposed framework can serve as a practical decision-support tool for coordinate between stakeholders and ensure that limited resources generate the greatest possible environmental and economic benefit.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 09:10:01 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2694547</guid></item><item><title>Business Ethics in Ship Agencies</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2688831</link><description><![CDATA[Increasing operational pressures and demands for corporate transparency in the maritime sector highlight the need to reassess the dynamics shaping business ethics in ship agencies. This study aims to systematically identify the factors shaping the ethical structure in ship agencies and their mechanisms of influence by analyzing these dynamics using a multidimensional approach. In the research, eight fundamental ethical factors identified through a literature review were quantitatively analyzed using the DEMATEL method in line with expert opinions; the causal structures obtained with DEMATEL were compared with the findings of the thematic content analysis conducted on 80 keywords using MAXQDA. DEMATEL findings indicate that Work Pressure, Corporate Trust, and Social Responsibility are positioned as influencing factors with high causal power within the system; while Corporate Values and Company Image emerge as affected outcome variables with high levels of dependence and centrality. There was a notable overlap between the findings of the thematic content analysis conducted using DEMATEL and MAXQDA. In particular, a bidirectional, intense, and stable network of interactions was identified between Corporate Values and Company Image. However, for example, while the Work Pressure factor had high directive power in the DEMATEL analysis, it showed relatively lower conceptual visibility in the MAXQDA content analysis, indicating a mismatch between the emphases of the two methods. The findings reveal that, in addition to corporate values and reputation management, reducing operational pressures and strengthening corporate trust mechanisms should be addressed as fundamental strategic priorities for an ethical and sustainable business model in ship agencies.]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:52:04 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2688831</guid></item><item><title>The Effect of Pilotage on Navigational Accidents: Time Series Analysis of Cointegration for the İstanbul Strait</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2684232</link><description><![CDATA[The İstanbul Strait, which plays an important role in maritime transportation in Türkiye and worldwide, is one of the busiest waterways with its dense traffic, handling approximately 3.5%–4.0% of global seaborne trade volume. Because of this dense ship and cargo traffic, it is of great importance to prevent accidents that may occur in the Strait. Most accidents occur when the pilotage service is not used. In this study, the aim is to determine how effective passage with a pilot in the İstanbul Strait is in reducing accidents by analyzing the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) cointegration method. Therefore, data on the number of accidents and the number of ships receiving pilotage services in the İstanbul Strait between 1996 and 2023 are analyzed, and the statistical relationship between them is investigated. This study found a significant long-term relationship between pilotage services and the number of accidents. It is concluded that the pilotage service has a negative effect on the number of accidents: a one-unit increase in the number of passages with a pilot is associated with a −0.0036 decrease in the number of accidents.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:34:21 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2684232</guid></item><item><title>Reforming the Coast Guard's Certificate of Compliance Program for Liquefied Gas Carriers: Promoting Efficient Implementation and Safety Effectiveness</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2672508</link><description><![CDATA[As liquefied gas exports from U.S. ports have grown rapidly in recent years, reforms are needed to a U.S. Coast Guard program that examines liquefied gas carriers (LGCs). Going forward, this growth in LGC exports and arrivals is likely to increase the demand for gas carrier exams by Coast Guard marine inspectors, of which there is a chronic shortage. This Special Report was requested by Congress out of concern for the Coast Guard's ability to examine the increasing number of foreign tank ships that load liquefied gas for transport overseas. The National Academies' committee concluded that the time is right for Congress to revisit the Certificate of Compliance program's requirements mandating the frequency of exams and to allow the Coast Guard greater flexibility to decide when and how to examine individual LGCs using indicators of risk.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 09:15:16 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2672508</guid></item><item><title>Toward Optimized Estimation of Maximum Ship Wave Height in Inland Waterways</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2669725</link><description><![CDATA[With the rapid development of inland waterway transport, vessel traffic flow becomes increasingly busy. Ship-induced waves result in significant hydrodynamic effects on inland waterway infrastructures and ship navigation safety. The characteristics of ship-induced waves could not only provide a reference for ship hull form optimization but also support the scientific maintenance of waterway infrastructure. In the context of extensive field ship wave observations under complex circumstances, an optimized estimation formula has been proposed considering the influence of ship dimensions. Different dimensionless variables were introduced, and the estimation formula was optimized through the π theorem. Its coefficients were determined by the least square fitting method. A detailed comparison with the classic estimation formulae demonstrates that the proposed formula would provide accurate estimation of ship waves under various conditions in inland waterways. The root mean square error is reduced by approximately 49% in contrast with the traditional estimation formulae. Additionally, a high coefficient of determination was derived as 0.88, highlighting its versatility in maximum ship wave height estimation of inland waterways. The present study shares valuable insights into ship wave height estimation which would be beneficial for inland waterways planning and design.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 18 Feb 2026 08:50:40 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2669725</guid></item><item><title>Optimizing Shield Tunneling Parameters for River Dike Safety: Numerical Simulation and Case Study of Soft-over-Hard Strata</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2661769</link><description><![CDATA[This research employs finite element analysis to model the impact of shield tunneling on a river embankment situated near a river channel with overlying soft soil and underlying hard rock. The study is based on the Shenzhen-Shantou Avenue expansion project’s pipe gallery tunnel construction under the Chishi River in China. The primary focus is optimizing shield propulsion pressure and synchronous grouting pressure to minimize embankment settlement and tilting. The simulation results reveal a strong correlation between grouting pressure and vertical embankment settlement. Within the range of grouting pressure 0.01–0.03 MPa, the vertical settlement produced by the grouting pressure of 0.01 MPa is the largest, at 12.8 mm, and an increase of 0.01 MPa in grouting pressure reduces the maximum settlement by 0.65 mm. However, grouting pressure shows minimal effect on lateral embankment displacement and tilting. Furthermore, excessive grouting pressure (above 0.03 MPa) increases the risk of riverbed uplift, highlighting the need for careful pressure control. In contrast, the shield’s propulsion pressure demonstrates a more significant influence on lateral embankment movement. While less effective in controlling vertical settlement, adjusting the propulsion pressure effectively manages lateral displacement and tilting. Increasing propulsion pressure initially shifts embankment displacement away from the river, eventually reaching near-zero lateral displacement at 0.08 MPa. However, further increases in propulsion pressure heighten the risk of embankment overturning toward the river. Therefore, an optimal propulsion pressure range of 0.05–0.08 MPa is recommended to balance minimizing lateral displacement and mitigating overturning risks. This study provides crucial insights for determining appropriate tunneling parameters in similar geotechnical contexts, where soft soil overlies hard rock near a river.]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:06:22 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2661769</guid></item><item><title>Study of Ship Path Planning in Complex Environments Based on Spatiotemporal Reinforcement Learning</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2659377</link><description><![CDATA[To address the challenges in ship path planning and collision avoidance in complex marine environments, this study proposes a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based local path planning algorithm that integrates spatiotemporal feature modeling, aiming to achieve unified ship collision avoidance and motion control. Firstly, an end-to-end state space and action space framework is established, enabling the system to directly output control commands based on perceptual information, thereby bridging the entire pipeline from perception to control. Secondly, a network architecture incorporating spatial position encoding, temporal context modeling, and an attention mechanism is designed to enhance feature modeling and decision-making capabilities in complex environments. Finally, a reward function system combining navigation objectives and collision avoidance requirements is constructed, alleviating the sparse reward problem in reinforcement learning and accelerating training convergence. Comparative experiments conducted in various typical scenarios demonstrate the superiority of the proposed algorithm with reference to path efficiency, safety, and control stability, providing robust technical support for the autonomous navigation of intelligent ships.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:08:28 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2659377</guid></item><item><title>Investigating the Determinants of Chinese Cruise Port Competitiveness: a Grey-DEMATEL Approach</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2659376</link><description><![CDATA[The burgeoning cruise tourism industry has elevated the significance of cruise port competitiveness, particularly in China where the industry is experiencing rapid expansion. However, the development of Chinese cruise ports is hindered by a lack of comprehensive analysis of the factors that shape their competitiveness. This paper addresses this challenge by identifying and evaluating the primary factors influencing the competitiveness of Chinese cruise ports. The Grey-DEMATEL method is employed to systematically evaluate these factors and their causal relationships. Nine key factors are pinpointed which are pivotal to the competitiveness of Chinese cruise ports, highlighting how these factors interact and influence one another. The findings offer a strategic framework for the planning and management of Chinese cruise ports, providing actionable insights for practitioners to improve port competitiveness, navigate market shifts, and maintain a leading position in the global cruise industry. This paper’s contributions to the theoretical understanding of cruise port competitiveness and its practical applications are poised to support the thriving advance of China’s cruise tourism sector.]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:08:28 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2659376</guid></item><item><title>Strengthening Alcohol Policies and Supporting Safety and Health in the Maritime Industry</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2657017</link><description><![CDATA[Strengthening the maritime workforce requires attention to its challenges. Over the last several years, a number of highly publicized instances of sexual misconduct in the maritime industry involved alcohol use. The headlines drew national attention, led to Congressional action, and triggered multiple changes in policies and practices across the U.S. maritime academies, industry, and the U.S. Coast Guard. This report presents the results of a study called for by Congress and commissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard about the problems arising from the possession and consumption of alcohol at sea and the actions taken to address them. The study's charge is broad, requiring an assessment that considers operational and workplace factors that inform alcohol misuse; the contributing role of alcohol and other substances to harmful and dangerous behaviors, including sexual misconduct; the effectiveness of federal regulations and policies to deter misuse; the state of science on best practices for regulating workplace alcohol use and for preventing intoxication and sexual misconduct; and the extent to which current regulations and policies pertaining to the maritime industry align with these best practices. Conducted by an expert committee, the study starts from the premise that taking actions to prevent alcohol misuse is far preferable to responding to the consequences. Drawing upon the interconnections among alcohol and other substance use, sexual misconduct, and mariner well-being, the committee reviewed the relevant policy and programmatic framework as well as the state of existing evidence on the nature and scale of these problems. This context informed the committee's recommendations for both specific standards and guidelines as well as for fundamental approaches to enhance leadership and a safety-focused culture.]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 15:38:59 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2657017</guid></item><item><title>Prescribed Performance-Based Optimal Formation Control for USVs With Position Constraints and Yaw Angle Time-Varying Partial Constraints</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2553281</link><description><![CDATA[This paper considers the prescribed performance-based optimal formation control problem for unmanned surface vehicles with position constraints and yaw angle time-varying partial constraints while avoiding collisions and maintaining connectivity. To be more specific, prescribed-time performance constraints are imposed on the position tracking errors between each vehicle and its leader. Then, the prescribed performance-based optimal formation control strategy is developed to guarantee that each vehicle achieves collision-free formation control while maintaining connectivity, as well as the prescribed transient and steady performance on the position tracking errors. Inspired by the prescribed performance control, an improved asymmetric barrier function with prescribed performance is provided to ensure that the yaw angle errors satisfy the prescribed performance constraints. Eventually, theoretical analysis demonstrates that the optimal formation control scheme can produce position tracking errors that converge to a prescribed arbitrarily small region within a prescribed time interval, along with the yaw angle that adheres to the time-varying partial constraints, subject to optimal cost with limited communication ranges and collision avoidance constraints. Simulation results and comprehensive comparisons show extraordinary effectiveness and superiority.]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 14:17:48 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2553281</guid></item><item><title>Event-Triggered Train Formation Control of Multiple Autonomous Surface Vehicles in Polar Communication Interference Environment</title><link>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2553279</link><description><![CDATA[This paper investigates the event-triggered train formation control problem for multiple autonomous surface vehicles (ASVs) formation system in polar communication interference environment. Firstly, a distributed resilient guidance algorithm is introduced to generate the reference route based on waypoints. In the guidance algorithm, the distributed resilient leader predictor (RLP) is applied to obtain the states of ice-breaking ship when communication fails, and the resilient train formation scheme is designed to compute the reference signals for ASVs. Subsequently, an adaptive neural event-triggered train formation control algorithm is developed. In the control algorithm, the neural networks (NNs) are conducted to approximate model uncertainties, and event-triggered control (ETC) is employed to minimize controller updates. Furthermore, the threshold of the event-triggered mechanism (ETM) can be dynamically adjusted by states of system. It is proved that the formulated algorithm can ensure the prediction errors converge and multiple ASVs system is stable in polar communication interference environment. Finally, two simulation experiments are adopted to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:22:40 GMT</pubDate><guid>http://pubsindex.trb.org/view/2553279</guid></item></channel></rss>