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This paper reviews and analyses renewable energy options, namely underground thermal, solar, wind and marine wave energy, in seaport cargo terminal operations.

Four renewable energy options that are deployed or tested in different ports around the world are qualitatively examined for their overall implementation potential and characteristics, and their cost and benefits. An application to the port of Singapore is discussed.

Geophysical conditions are key criteria in assessing renewable energy options. In the case of Singapore, solar power is the only suitable renewable energy option.

Being a capital-intensive establishment with high intensities of cargo operations, seaports usually involve a high level of energy consumption. The study of renewable energy options contributes to seaport sustainability.

A key recommendation is to implement a smart energy management system that enables the mixed use of renewable energy to match energy demand and supply optimally and achieve higher energy efficiency.

The use of renewable energy as an eco-friendlier energy source is underway in various ports. However, there is almost no literature that analyses and compares various renewable energy options potentially suitable for cargo terminal operations in ports. This paper narrows the knowledge gaps.

This paper seeks insights into how multinational enterprises restructure their global supply chains to manage the uncertainty caused by geopolitical disruptions. To answer this question, we investigate three significant geopolitical disruptions: Brexit, the US-China trade war and the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The study uses an inductive theory-elaboration approach to build on Organisational Learning Theory and Dunning’s eclectic paradigm of international production. Twenty-nine expert interviews were conducted with senior supply chain executives across 14 multinational manufacturing firms. The analysis is validated by triangulating secondary data sources, including standard operating procedures, annual reports and organisational protocols.

We find that, when faced with significant geopolitical disruptions, companies develop and deploy supply chain structural ambidexterity in different ways. Specifically, during Covid-19, the US-China trade war and Brexit, companies developed and deployed three distinct types of supply chain structural ambidexterity through (1) partitioning internal subunits, (2) reconfiguring supplier networks and (3) creating parallel supply chains.

The findings contribute to Dunning’s eclectic paradigm by explaining how organisational ambidexterity is extended beyond firm boundaries and embedded in supply chains to mitigate uncertainty and gain exploration and exploitation benefits. During significant geopolitical disruptions, we find that managers make decisions in tight timeframes. Therefore, based on the transition time available, we propose three types of supply chain structural ambidexterity. We conclude with a managerial framework to assist firms in developing supply chain structural ambidexterity in response to geopolitical disruptions.

This paper's purpose is twofold. First, based on a case study, it aims to comprehend the consequences of COVID-19 on the demand and supply shocks of the freight transportation system in Mexico. Second, it seeks to provide an integrated perspective of four transportation modes, which would help prepare public policies for future global pandemics.

Analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the freight transportation system, which affects national and global economies, is essential to drawing valuable insights for the future. To facilitate international comparative analysis, conducting case studies at a country level was deemed necessary. As a result, a case study was conducted in Mexico using an integrated approach involving four transportation modes.

To manage disruptions in freight flow during uncertain conditions, a comprehensive perspective on the four modes of transportation and data-driven decision-making is crucial. Under this context, three initiatives can be identified: 1) establishing a National Center for Intelligence in Logistics to improve data-driven governance; 2) appointing the “Integrated Transportation Corridor Management Manager” (ITCMM) function to coordinate multiple authorities with different acting in critical freight transport corridors, and 3) creation of a digital tool based on millions of GPS data to monitor freight flows, allowing for collective intelligence among logistics actors.

This research's limitations are related to using non-standardized databases to gather information on four transportation modes. However, this limitation is also an interesting discovery. Mexico is becoming a strategic logistics hub between North America and Latin America, especially under the “Nearshoring” trend. Unfortunately, the lack of an integrated public policy in logistics and transportation reduces Mexico's capacity to deal with disruptions and its economic competitiveness.

This research has identified practices that could be crucial in improving public policies to optimize shipping routes and reduce wait times while minimizing disruptions caused by unforeseen events. A concrete example is the digital platform called “eraclitux,” a computer tool similar to an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system companies use. This tool can enable a “Control Tower” that monitors freight flow in transportation corridors under the supervision of “Integrated Transportation Corridor Management Managers.” The tool can make reactive and predictive decisions that help to enhance the logistics value provided by transportation infrastructure.

The importance of a well-coordinated and integrated public policy for freight transportation was identified to ensure better performance during disruptions. Delays in the flow of goods can significantly impact the supply of essential items such as food and medicine, ultimately affecting the population's quality of life.

Numerous studies have been conducted to determine the extent of vulnerability and the impact of COVID-19 on freight transportation. However, most of these studies assume a developed market context or a single-mode transportation approach, which only applies to some situations. To gain a comprehensive understanding of how pandemics-induced demand and supply shocks affected freight transportation in developing countries such as Mexico, this paper offers insights from a four-transportation mode perspective. Mexico is facing a challenging Nearshoring trend in manufacturing, making it a significant logistics node between North and South America.