Maritime Transport

Maritime transport includes both freight and passenger transport. Almost 90% of the goods are transported by sea. Demand for transport is growing, which in turn encourages supply chain management developments to remain competitive. The traditional transport service has been supplemented by terminal and warehousing services, agency and chartering, etc., which are closely linked to the digitalisation of maritime transport and the accompanying changes in the functioning of the maritime sector, education and research and development.

The specialists in EMERA have up-to-date knowledge and practical experience that combined allow us to provide research based services for the maritime sector in order to make maritime transportation and its’ digitalisation (e-documents, smart ports) more efficient. To boost the technological advancements and enable the growth in research and development in Estonia and internationally a tenure of Maritime Transport has been created in the spring of 2021.

The research focuses on two main special areas:

1. Smart and energy efficient environments. How tightening environmental regulations affect shipping companies, ports and maritime markets? The studies analyse the present shipping business, and study how the new fuels, vessel design and operative changes will affect the shipping business models and operations. Research is multidisciplinary and various methods can be used.
2. Future governance. The functioning and competitiveness of shipping companies, port, and maritime sectors in various shipping market situations: cargo and passenger volumes, financial situations, availability of the fleet, even policies and public opinion. This work is closely done with either authorities or companies, and often also directly from their request.