Smart Maritime Governance and Custom (Port) Security: Digital Innovation, Sustainability, and Social Transformation in Coastal Systems

Maritime governance and port security are undergoing significant transformation due to rapid digitalization, sustainability imperatives, and evolving socio-political dynamics in coastal systems. The integration of smart technologies, such as AI-driven surveillance, digital customs platforms, blockchain logistics, and real-time data analytics, is reshaping how ports manage trade flows, security risks, and environmental performance. At the same time, climate adaptation requirements, decarbonization strategies, and increasing regulatory complexity are redefining governance responsibilities across local, national, and international levels. These developments occur within broader social changes, including shifting labor structures, public expectations for transparency, and geopolitical instability affecting global supply chains. Understanding how digital innovation intersects with sustainability and security is therefore critical for developing resilient, efficient, and socially legitimate smart maritime governance systems.This Research Topic aims to advance interdisciplinary scholarship on the transformation of maritime governance and port security in the era of digital innovation and sustainability transition. It invites contributions that examine how AI-enabled monitoring systems, data-driven decision-making tools, and smart port infrastructures are reshaping operational efficiency, risk management, and regulatory compliance in coastal environments. Particular attention is encouraged toward governance models that strengthen security while simultaneously supporting environmental performance, decarbonization goals, and social responsibility. Submissions may explore regulatory and institutional frameworks, adaptive risk governance, cybersecurity in maritime systems, and the integration of real-time analytics into customs and logistics operations. The Topic also welcomes research on stakeholder collaboration across public and private sectors, cross-border coordination, and the evolving role of human–technology interaction in complex port ecosystems. By bridging technological, environmental, and governance perspectives, this collection seeks to foster resilient, transparent, and sustainable smart maritime systems capable of addressing contemporary geopolitical and ecological challenges.The topic aims to advance understanding of how smart solutions can strengthen resilient, transparent, and sustainable coastal governance while balancing efficiency, security, and public trust in rapidly evolving maritime ecosystems. Topic editors: Jaroslav Dvorak, Izabela Jonek-Kowalska, Ilona Dumanska Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79021/smart-maritime-governance-and-custom-port-security-digital-innovation-sustainability-and-social-transformation-in-coastal-systems