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A stakeholder approach to investigating the potential of transhipment in Malta: Publication in a top-tier journal for research funded by the HSBC Malta Foundation and RIDT

In a recent social media post, Director of the Institute and co-author of the paper, Prof. Maria Attard, said: “Research pieces like this can help Malta realise the full potential of its strategic location in the Mediterranean, opening the door to new economic opportunities, strengthening competitiveness, informing infrastructure planning and helping to shape national policy.” Research projects undertaken within the University of Malta’s Institute for Climate Change and Sustainable Development have been many and varied, reflecting both the breadth of expertise within the Institute and its commitment to addressing some of today’s most pressing challenges. 

Among the many milestones that mark this work, a significant one is seeing research published in a top-tier, peer-reviewed journal. Such recognition is not only a source of pride, but also a powerful endorsement of the quality of the research, giving it a wider platform and placing the work of the University of Malta firmly on the international scientific stage. 

A recently published study in the journal Transport Policy examines Malta’s maritime logistics ecosystem, showing how stakeholder legitimacy, inter-organisational power and urgency shape coordination, ecosystem stability and the creation of collective value, with implications for more effective policy. This is one of the outputs of the Sustainable Freight Transport Project funded by the HSBC Malta Foundation through . 

The study identifies three key policy implications: the need for effective coordination among ecosystem participants, shared reporting platforms to improve communication, and greater use of existing policy instruments under European law to address identified challenges. 

The paper, titled ‘Stakeholder attributes in maritime logistics ecosystem: a policy perspective for small island states’, may be read . This paper is co-authored with , Assistant Professor at the World Maritime University in Sweden.

Prof. Attard thanked HSBC Malta Foundation, RIDT- the University of Malta’s Research Trust, and ½ñÈÕºÚÁÏ RSO for supporting the project.