To evaluate the transportation time reliability of the maritime transportation network for China’s crude oil imports under node capacity variations resulting from extreme events, a framework incorporating bi-level programming and a Monte Carlo simulation is proposed in this paper. Under this framework, the imported crude oil volume from each source country is considered to be a decision variable, and may change in correspondence to node capacity variations. The evaluation results illustrate that when strait or canal nodes were subject to capacity variations, the network transportation time reliability was relatively low. Conversely, the transportation time reliability was relatively high when port nodes were under capacity variations. In addition, the Taiwan Strait, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Strait of Malacca were identified as vulnerable nodes according to the transportation time reliability results. These results can assist government decision-makers and tanker company strategic planners to better plan crude oil import and transportation strategies.
This study investigates how the recognition and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities influence small business performance via interactions with firm-level innovation capability and learning orientation. We frame the study within the maritime-sector context and seek to contribute to the understanding of how the interplay between opportunity recognition, exploitation, innovation capability and learning orientation affects the entrepreneurial performance of local businesses when there is a technological policy change. The study further frames its arguments from a dynamic capability perspective and tests its arguments with data from 284 local businesses operating in the Port of Tema. Findings reveal that opportunity exploitation and learning orientation as well as their interplay have a positive and significant effect on entrepreneurial performance. The study consequently presents local micro-entrepreneurial reactions to macro-level policy changes within the maritime sector – an issue that has largely remained uninvestigated in the African business literature due to maritime blindness.
Climate change is affecting the oceans with increased sea levels, ocean acidification and extreme weather affecting coastal ecosystems. This necessitates a new model for climate and marine law, because existing law and policy are insufficient to tackle adaptation and mitigation impacts upon the marine environment. Presently, we do not know what it takes to integrate and balance climate legislation and governance when faced with unknown problems. The concept of Blue Economy is new and originates from the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. This chapter explores how one can best build new knowledge that can integrate climate law and marine governance. It does so by proposing the creation of a nexus between ecosystem-based regulations and marine spatial planning in order to create a new paradigm for effective and inclusive Blue Economy, using a systemic multi-regulatory framework (Global, Regional and National).
The Faroe Islands are currently struggling to find their feet in a new context of globalization and changing international requirements on fishery management best practices, as exemplified by United Nations protocols and agreements. We introduce the Faroese fisheries effort management system for cod, haddock and saithe, which represents an innovative attempt to tackle the challenges of mixed fisheries by means of a combination of total allowable effort implemented through days-at-sea and extensive use of closed or limited access areas. Subsequently, we present and discuss controversies concerning the system's ability (or lack thereof) to achieve a level of fishing effort that produces long-term sustainability. Over the years the system has proven able to evolve and overcome challenges, and the Faroe Islands are currently considering adding a proper fisheries management plan to the system to achieve fishing at maximum sustainable yield. However, finding support for this plan presents a challenge due particularly to an enduring gap between the perspectives of scientists and actors in the catching sector. Finally, we outline some actions that could be taken to reduce the gap and hence facilitate reform of the system: 1) integration of the consultative/advisory process; 2) obtaining tailor-made advice for the Faroese effort management system from the relevant scientific body; 3) establishment of a transparent mechanism for monitoring and regulating fishing effort; 4) clarifying the effectiveness of the prevalent system of closed areas.
This study explored xanthan gum hydrogel coatings as an approach to more environmental friendly fouling control strategies. Xanthan gum served as a filler in a conventional rosin/acrylic coating matrix, leading to the formation of a 150 μm thick gel layer on the coating surface upon seawater exposure. While biocide-free xanthan hydrogel coatings did not have significant antifouling capabilities, a synergistic effect between hydrogel and cuprous oxide was observed. During field tests at the CoaST Maritime Test Center (CMTC), it was found that the cuprous oxide concentration could be reduced by at least 50 wt% for the hydrogel coating without compromising the antifouling performance. Two possible causes were identified. First, the hydrogel coating could maintain a higher release rate over a prolonged period and second, the hydrogel was able to accumulate Cu2+, increasing retention time on the surface, creating a hostile environment. A synergistic enhancement in gel strength, yield point, and flow point was observed when xanthan was combined with konjac mannan. While promising for static applications, the rheological assessments of the different gels highlighted challenges for the application in dynamic settings like moving ships.
For more than a century, conventional marine vessels spatter the atmosphere with CO2 emissions and detrimental particles when operated by diesel motors/generators. Fuel cells have recently emerged as one of the most promising emission-free technologies for the electrification of ship propulsion systems. In fuel cell-based ship electrification, the entire marine power system is viewed as a direct current (DC) microgrid (MG) with constant power loads (CPLs). A challenge of such settings is how to stabilize the voltages and currents of the ship’s grid. In this paper, we propose a new modified backstepping controller to stabilize the MG voltage and currents. Finally, to study the performance and efficiency of our proposal, we run an experiment simulation using dSPACE real-time emulator.
The authors revisit the literature on the use of expatriates and specifically Boyacigiller (1990) and examine whether OW Bunker, a Danish bunker oil trader, filled positions at its foreign units with traders transferred from its other units (expatriates). The authors test the generalizability and robustness of past findings on this topic by using a different dependent variable, sample, and methodology. Design/methodology/approach: By searching the traders' LinkedIn profiles and consulting secondary sources, the authors obtain data on current and previous positions and work location and type of customer handled (global or local). Using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA), the authors analyze 236 hiring decisions made between 1983 and 2014. Findings: The authors find that OW transferred expatriates, principally home-country nationals, to handle global customers in its large foreign subsidiaries located in high-income countries. In another clear pattern, expatriates were used to start new foreign subsidiaries. These results generally confirm those of Boyacigiller. However, and contrary to her findings, none of our scenarios for internal transfers feature expatriates being sent to culturally and institutionally distant subsidiaries unless it is to serve global customers, casting doubt on the idea that a major reason for using expatriates is to remedy a local shortage of skills or to handle political risk. Originality/value: The authors test the generalizability of Boyacigiller’s (1990) findings and confirm a large part of it. They extend her study by demonstrating that MNEs deploy expatriates not only to distant countries but also to close ones.
Within realistic time constraints we successfully trained six occupational health and safety professionals in applying a Design Thinking (DT) approach to solve complex musculoskeletal and psychosocial problems at work. DT may be defined by the double diamond model pointing to a non-linear and user-centred problem-solving process iterating through divergent and convergent phases A key characteristic of DT is the ability to frame a problematic situation in new and interesting ways. The training was done in a full-day workshop followed by a learning-by-doing phase in which they planned and completed design sprint workshops in companies. The professionals went from novices into advanced beginners according to the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition. In the overall question of the usefulness of DT in OHS management, the average rating went from 6 before the training course to 9.5 after. In an evaluation of the DT approach on a 1–5 scale they rated design sprints at 3.8 to be more appropriate to manage complex problems than the methods they normally used. However, more experience seems necessary to adopt the DT mind set of an iterative process, in which they need to decide which tools to use in an emergent, nonlinear and iterative fashion.
This article examines whether the concept of territorial governance (TG) accurately captures the nature of governance and policymaking in transboundary marine spatial planning (TMSP) activities in the Baltic Sea Region. The focus of analysis is on the DG Mare–funded Baltic SCOPE and Pan Baltic Scope projects, which brought together key marine spatial planning stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region to find solutions to TMSP issues. The five key dimensions of TG are examined against the transboundary collaborations undertaken during these two projects. The article finds that TMSP in the Baltic Sea Region shares many of the key characteristics of TG, such as, promoting learning and establishing stronger links between institutions, sectors and stakeholders; however, the TG concept fails to accurately capture the power dynamics at play in TMSP, particularly the central role of national planning authorities and certain sea use sectors in determining the overall direction of policy.
Denne afhandling omhandler steds- og mobilitetsudfordringer samt byudviklingspotentialer
for det, der i afhandlingen betegnes ’transit- og levebyer’. Provins- og havnebyen Hirtshals,
beliggende på Danmarks nordlige vestkyst, fungerer i afhandlingen som gennemgående case,
der overordnet illustrerer, hvordan et sted kan være i vækst og tilbagegang på samme tid.
Afhandlingens problemfelt indskriver sig i en samfundsmæssig kontekst af øget mobilitet samt
centralisering og yderområder, og påpeger provinsbyens rolle som et lokalt knudepunkt samt
havnebyens rolle som et nationalt knudepunkt. Således er casen også et eksempel på et stærkt
mobilitetspåvirket sted i det, jeg benævner ’Gennemfartsdanmark’, hvor mange mennesker
rejser igennem, men kun få gør ophold. Afhandlingen sætter spørgsmålstegn ved, om et sådan
sted overhovedet opfattes som en by med et godt og attraktivt byliv, eller kun som et transit-hub.
Havnen i Hirtshals er et logistisk knudepunkt for både mennesker og gods, med gode
forbindelser til bl.a. Norge, Island, Færøerne og Storbritannien, og med direkte adgang til den
europæiske motorvejskorridor. Der investeres i Hirtshals i store infrastrukturprojekter for at
understøtte havnens aktiviteter og virke, som genererer arbejdspladser og et stigende antal
gennemrejsende erhvervschauffører og turister. Samtidig falder befolkningstallet hastigt: fra mere
end 7.000 indbyggere til mindre end 6.000 indbyggere de sidste 15 år. Afhandlingen adresserer
og udfordrer på den baggrund den i udgangspunktet ofte fremførte samfundsmæssige diskurs,
at øget mobilitet skaber vækst og fremgang for byer per se!
Ph.d.-projektet er opbygget omkring et overvejende kvalitativt forskningsdesign, og søger
derved at komme frem til en dybere forståelse af, hvad der ligger bag det statistiske materiale
om befolknings- og erhvervsudvikling i Hirtshals. Videnskabsteoretisk bygger afhandlingen
på en pragmatisk forståelsesramme, der tilskynder at lade empirien være omdrejningspunkt
for forskning, mens teorier og metoder anses som praktiske værktøjer i vidensproduktionen.
Forskningsprojektet undersøger empirisk forholdet mellem vækst i infrastrukturprojekter,
erhverv, gods og rejsende og tilbagegang i befolkningstal, offentlige funktioner og det byggede
miljø. Dette belyses gennem casestudiet, der er baseret på en række forskellige praktiske metoder,
herunder dokumentanalyser, interviews, spørgeskemaundersøgelser, registerdata og fysiskrumlige stedsanalyser. Blandingen af metoder muliggør at studere casen fra mange vinkler, og
belyse Hirtshals’ fortid og nutid samt fremtidsperspektiver.
Afhandlingen skaber en forståelse omkring casens stedslige og mobilitetsrelaterede
udfordringer, kvaliteter og potentialer, for derved at kvalificere en række byudviklingsperspektiver.
Teoretisk er forskningsprojektet funderet i begreberne sted og mobilitet, og udvikler derudfra
en terminologi omkring ‘transitbyer’ og ‘levebyer’. Den klassiske stedsteori og konventionelle
transportforskning udfordres gennem en relationel og mobilitetsorienteret stedsforståelse, der
bruges til at analysere casen. En relationel og mobilitetsorienteret stedsforståelse betyder, at sted
konkret må opfattes og defineres som en relation mellem fysik og geografi, mobilitet og sociale
sammenhænge, historie og betydning.
På baggrund af afhandlingen kan det konkluderes, at Hirtshals hverken kan forstås isoleret
som transitby eller isoleret som leveby, men at Hirtshals netop består, fungerer og eksisterer i
kraft af begge dele. Derfor peger afhandlingen på, at det er vigtigt i forhold til byplanlægning i
Hirtshals og andre stærkt mobilitetspåvirkede byer og steder, at tænke kvaliteterne ved transitby
og leveby sammen. På baggrund af casestudiet udvikles en relationel og mobilitetsorienteret
stedsstrategi med generelle anbefalinger for Hirtshals og andre transit- og levebyer.
Det er ønsket med denne afhandling at kondensere en række læringspunkter fra
Hirtshals, der kan være medvirkende til at gøre en forskel i praksis. Casestudiets resultater er i
udgangspunktet kontekstafhængige, men rummer samtidig almengyldige kvaliteter. Studiet af
Hirtshals kan således generere værdifuld viden til planlægningen i byer, der som Hirtshals er
stærkt mobilitetspåvirkede, og hvor der kan stilles spørgsmålstegn ved, om den pågældende by
overvejende er en transit- eller leveby?