Where’s Wally? The Search for Social Sustainability in the Maritime Industry and Recommendations for Future Research

Transport systems play a vital role in the pursuit of sustainable development. Approximately 80% of the global merchandise trade is facilitated by shipping, which is considered the foremost environmentally and economically efficient mode of transport per unit of cargo. Despite these advantages, shipping is responsible for nearly 3% of greenhouse gas emissions, making it imperative to research operational, technological, and market-based solutions for decarbonization. Unfortunately, these endeavors frequently fail to integrate social aspects. This missing piece fundamentally distorts the understanding of sustainability and risks introducing even more shipping-related externalities. Drawing from the findings of a systematic review of maritime literature between years 2015 to 2023, complemented by a thematic synthesis, this paper interrogates academic research in the realm of social sustainability within maritime transport. The study aims to offer insights for future research on sustainable maritime transport and specifically its social dimension. The paper urges academics to establish theoretical foundations for their studies that consider contextual and sectoral variations and thereby to substantiate their choices. In addition, this paper suggests focusing future research endeavors on empirical data gathering and deploying innovative research methods in the collection of such data. Finally, this study identifies specific social sustainability themes that could be further elaborated and highlights the importance of considering procedural aspects of social sustainability in policy formation and implementation.