Climate Resilient Maritime Transport: Probabilistic Modeling of Operational Costs Under Increasing Weather Variability in the Baltic Sea

Abstract

Maritime transport in semi-enclosed seas is increasingly exposed to short-term weather variability, a challenge expected to intensify under climate change and to affect the economic sustainability of shipping operations. This study proposes an integrated probabilistic framework to assess the impact of weather-induced uncertainty on operational costs, using a ferry service in the Baltic Sea as a case study. The approach combines a semi-Markov process, representing transitions between discrete weather hazard states derived from ERA5 reanalysis data (2010–2025), with a state-dependent cost model of key technical subsystems across the vessel’s operational cycle. The results show a strongly disproportionate cost structure, with most expenditures concentrated in open-sea navigation states. Although severe weather conditions occur infrequently, they generate a nonlinear amplification of operational costs, significantly reducing cost predictability and system resilience. The findings indicate that enhancing sustainability in maritime transport requires targeted, state-specific adaptation measures, such as weather-aware routing and condition-based maintenance. The proposed framework supports climate-adaptive decision-making and contributes to sustainability-oriented planning in maritime transport through improved operational robustness and cost resilience under weather uncertainty.