AI-Driven Maritime Decarbonization for Resilient Ocean and Coastal Systems: Towards a Sustainable Blue Economy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for maritime decarbonization is a pivotal interdisciplinary field that transcends operational efficiency to safeguard the health of our ocean and coastal ecosystems. While maritime transport accounts for nearly 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, its impact extends to air and water pollution, acoustic disturbance, and the degradation of coastal community resources. To meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) net-zero targets by 2050, the sector must move beyond incremental gains. Rapid developments in AI—including advanced machine learning, digital twins, and predictive analytics—offer transformative potential to not only reduce carbon footprints but also foster nature-positive outcomes and enhance the resilience of the global blue economy.This Research Topic aims to bridge the gap between AI technology, marine environmental science, and policy. We seek to highlight how AI-driven decarbonization contributes to regenerative ocean health, such as improving water and air quality in port cities and reducing the ecological footprint of shipping lanes. The core objective is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration to evaluate AI methodologies that optimize ship performance while explicitly linking these advancements to measurable sustainability impacts on coastal systems and ecosystem services. We encourage submissions that address: How can AI-integrated systems protect marine biodiversity while cutting emissions? What role does AI play in harmonizing shipping operations with the socio-economic needs of coastal communities? By integrating environmental science with digital innovation, this topic provides a knowledge foundation for a low-carbon, resilient future for both the industry and the marine environment.To gather further insights within the scope of AI for maritime decarbonization, we invite articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:• AI for Holistic Environmental Impact: Monitoring and mitigating ship-induced air/water pollution and underwater noise to protect marine biodiversity.• Regenerative Maritime Operations: AI-based energy management systems that prioritize both carbon reduction and the health of coastal ecosystem services.• Resilient Coastal Infrastructure: AI-driven digital twins for "Green Ports" that support coastal community resilience and blue economy transitions.• Interdisciplinary Decision-Support: AI platforms integrating environmental science, climate policy, and stakeholder data for sustainable maritime governance.• Smart & Nature-Positive Routing: Weather routing and voyage optimization that accounts for marine protected areas and migratory patterns.• Beyond Carbon Metrics: AI roles in measuring co-benefits of decarbonization, such as improved coastal air quality and reduced chemical runoff.• Lifecycle and Ecosystem Analysis: AI-supported evaluation of alternative fuels, focusing on their total environmental impact on ocean health.• Social & Policy Frameworks: Governance models for AI adoption that ensure equitable benefits for coastal stakeholders and global shipping hubs.Appendix: This Research Topic encourages original research articles, reviews, case studies, and perspective papers, especially those with interdisciplinary or industry-led approaches Topic editors: Ran Yan, Ruihan Wang, Lei Liu, Tingting Cheng Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77640/ai-driven-maritime-decarbonization-for-resilient-ocean-and-coastal-systems-towards-a-sustainable-blue-economy