A sustainable maritime supply chain framework: an overview for academics and practitioners

Maritime transportation accounts for over 80% of global trade by volume, primarily due to its cost efficiency. As global supply chains evolve, sustainability has become a critical concern for the maritime sector. This study reviews the most relevant papers on maritime transportation, sustainable supply chains, and maritime supply chains (MSC), aiming to advance the field through the development of an integrated classification framework. The proposed framework systematically categorizes existing academic studies based on supply chain planning features, key maritime stakeholders, and sustainability dimensions. We begin by analyzing the MSC network, focusing on its structural components and interconnections, including ports, shipping companies, and maritime logistics providers. We then examine MSC planning problems, emphasizing decision-making and optimization challenges across three core dimensions: time horizon, product/service type, and geography. Subsequently, we explore the interactions among stakeholders, highlighting how their collaborative and competitive dynamics influence sustainability outcomes. The proposed framework enables a structured evaluation of maritime logistics sustainability, bridging the gap between regulatory requirements and practical industry applications. By addressing two key aspects: (1) a micro-level analysis of sustainability challenges, stakeholder interactions, and solution approaches, and (2) a critical discussion of key trends, research gaps, and future directions, this paper offers a practical roadmap for integrating sustainability into the maritime transportation sector. The insights provided are valuable for both academic research and industry practice.