Investigating the potential mitigating role of network design measures for reducing the environmental impact of maritime Chains: The Mediterranean case

Abstract Over the past few years, the reduction of maritime emissions has been receiving increasing attention in the shipping industry. The main reason lies in the growing need to reduce global emissions and the fact that, despite its overall environmentally friendly reputation, maritime transport is expected to further increase its contribution to pollution in the years to come. Not surprisingly, there is a growing interest in measures, policies, and initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of shipping activities. In this regard, the present study aims to investigate the potential role of network design measures in helping to mitigate the environmental impact of maritime transport chains. As far as the authors are aware, no previous studies on measures and initiatives for reducing maritime emissions have focused on the role of network design interventions. This study examines an innovative two-hub based Ro-Ro freight network for shipping services between the north-western and south-eastern Mediterranean shores and uses an activity-based methodology to assess its environmental impact and compare it with the existing system of regular Ro-Ro connections in the area. Numerical results confirm the potential effectiveness of network design measures in reducing the emissions of Mediterranean transport chains and provide new insights for the future development of more effective tactical-operational solutions, based on services integration, to support the adoption of more sustainable transport schemes in the Mediterranean area.