A comprehensive review of ship emission reduction technologies for sustainable maritime transport

Abstract

In recent years, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set strict emission standards for the shipping industry, which has raised high demands for ship emission reduction technologies. This review analyzes the research status of ship emission reduction technologies using bibliometric methods based on 714 publications from the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) and SCI-Expanded (SCIE) databases from 2000 to 2024, and use VOSviewer software for the visualization of publications. It identifies key trends, productive entities and key contributors, and research hotspots in the field. The core findings are that green power technologies, digital intelligence technologies, and emission reduction technologies are current focal points. Future research should focus on finding optimal solutions for alternative marine fuels, clarifying the low-carbon transformation pathways for ships, and promoting effective follow-up actions from all relevant parties.