Alternative marine fuel research advances and future trends: a bibliometric knowledge mapping approach

Abstract

While the marine sector contributes significantly to the global economy, its environmental impact is a cause for apprehension due to growing concerns about ship emissions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set decarbonization strategies consistent with sustainable development goals. The impending legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from maritime shipping by at least half by 2050 and to zero by the end of the century. A growing body of research has focused on alternative marine fuel selection; hence, this bibliometric review is timely. We assess the global scientific research on alternative marine fuel for knowledge mapping based on the articles available on the Scopus database since 1973. A total of 749 publications associated with alternative marine fuel has been subjected to a range of bibliometric analyses to explore this research field quantitatively and qualitatively. The study utilized the R-studio bibliometrics package and VOSviewer bibliometric tools to generate the results. The field of study has a growth rate of 7.05%, having a significant contribution to knowledge from the USA, the United Kingdom, India, and China. Recent trends indicate that researchers are increasingly focused on alternative fuel oil choices. By analyzing commonly used keywords, it was possible to trace a multi-criteria decision analysis process that might be utilized to construct decision support systems for alternative maritime fuel selection. According to relevant articles, the research community has concentrated on the possibility of alternative fuels being utilized in place of traditional marine fuels to reduce emissions from the shipping sector from an environmental, technological, and economic standpoint. The current study offers an updated and comprehensive overview of research trends on alternative marine fuels. Researchers interested in data mapping work in this area can begin with this endeavor.