A Smart Port Readiness Index in Southeast Asia to support autonomous ship operations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2026.286735Keywords:
Contextual multi-armed bandit; Maritime autonomous surface ships; Reinforcement learning; Smart port; Sustainability governanceAbstract
The development of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) requires adequate smart port capabilities to support safe and efficient autonomous operations. This study developed a Smart Port Readiness Index (SPRI) to assess port readiness for MASS across five Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. The SPRI encompassed six capability dimensions: technological infrastructure, interoperability, communication, cybersecurity resilience, onshore operational support, and regulatory and operational procedures. Policy text mining was applied to a multilingual dataset of port-related documents from 2018 to 2024, and SPRI indicators were extracted and subsequently analyzed through a Contextual Multi-Armed Bandit (CMAB) simulation framework to evaluate adaptive policy prioritization under different readiness conditions. Results showed significant readiness disparities across the region, including that Singapore demonstrated the most advanced and balanced readiness profile and was capable of supporting routine and higher-level MASS operations. Malaysia exhibited conditional readiness, with relatively strong regulatory foundations but limited digital infrastructure and system integration. Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines consistently exhibited low readiness across most SPRI components, indicating very limited capacity to accommodate MASS. Based on these profiles, this study aligned SPRI outcomes with MASS capability levels and identified targeted strategies to address country-specific readiness gaps. The simulation results further indicate that investments in advanced autonomous technologies and cybersecurity generate the highest expected improvements in SPRI performance. The proposed framework offered a data-driven approach for evaluating smart port readiness and informing strategic decision-making for autonomous maritime development in Southeast Asia.
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Cite this article:
APA Style:
Nurrosyidah, A., Pambudi, P. D. L., & Rachmannullah, A. F. (2026). A Smart Port Readiness Index in Southeast Asia to support autonomous ship operations. Maritime Technology and Research, 8(4), 286735. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2026.286735
MDPI Style:
Nurrosyidah, A.; Pambudi, P. D. L.; Rachmannullah, A. F. A Smart Port Readiness Index in Southeast Asia to support autonomous ship operations. Marit. Technol. Res. 2026, 8, 286735. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2026.286735
Vancouver Style:
Nurrosyidah A, Pambudi PDL, Rachmannullah AF. (2026). A Smart Port Readiness Index in Southeast Asia to support autonomous ship operations. Marit. Technol. Res. 8(4):286735. https://doi.org/10.33175/mtr.2026.286735
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Highlights
- Assessment of smart port readiness for MASS in Southeast Asia
- Development Smart Port Readiness Index from official port documents
- Using Multi-armed bandit (MAB) to assess five Southeast Asian Countries readiness
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