IWT 2025
The 7th International Conference of Inland Waterway Transport
In collaboration with UNESCAP on
Promoting Sustainability of Inland Waterway Transport and Logistics
16-18 July 2025
Chiang Rai, Thailand
Hosted by
Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
Chulalongkorn Business School, Chulalongkorn University
Mae Fah Luang University
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
Conference Key Dates and Paper Submissions
Introduction
The 7th International Conference of Inland Waterway Transport, themed “Promoting Sustainability of Inland Waterway Transport and Logistics,” will be held in Chiang Rai, Thailand, from 16-18 July 2025. The event is hosted by Chulalongkorn Business School, the Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Chulalongkorn University, and Mae Fah Luang University in collaboration with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). This conference highlights the importance of developing sustainable and efficient inland waterway transport systems to drive regional and global progress.
This year, the conference focuses on the transformative potential of inland waterways in enhancing economic connectivity, promoting environmental sustainability, and fostering social cohesion. Rivers such as those in China and Thailand have long served as vital arteries for trade, transportation, and cultural exchange, offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional land and air logistics networks. These waterways contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions, easing traffic congestion, and providing cost-effective solutions for transporting goods and people.
While the primary emphasis remains on sustainability, the conference will also explore the role of digitalization and emerging technologies in enhancing the efficiency and reliability of inland waterway systems. Advances in AI-driven analytics, smart navigation, and digital platforms provide valuable tools for optimizing operations and supporting environmentally sustainable practices.
Bringing together researchers, policymakers, business leaders, and industry experts, the conference aims to foster collaboration, share insights, and develop actionable strategies to address the challenges and opportunities in inland waterway transport and logistics. It will serve as a platform to highlight how sustainable practices, complemented by modern technological tools, can shape the future of global logistics networks.
Conference Date: 16-18 July 2025
Venue: Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Key Dates:
| Paper Submission | |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2025 | Open for Submission of Abstracts |
| May 30, 2025 | Submission of Extended Abstracts/ Full Papers |
| June 15, 2025 | Submission of Revised Extended Abstracts/ Full Papers |
| June 20, 2025 | Final Notice of Acceptance |
| Registration | |
| April 15, 2025 | Registration Open |
| June 25, 2025 | Registration Closing Date |
| July 16-18, 2025 | Conference |
Topics of Interest
The conference welcomes submissions of high-quality research papers on topics related to inland waterway transport and logistics, including but not limited to:
- Sustainability and Green Practices
- Decarbonization of river shipping
- River ships powered by renewable energy
- Green logistics between river-inland transport networks
- River-sea intermodal transportation networks
- Smart and Digital Innovations
- Smart river port development
- Digitalization of inland waterway transport
- Single-window systems for river cross-border operations
- AI and optimization models for river transport
- Policy, Safety, and Operational Models
- Integrated inland-waterway and multimodal transport systems
- Trends, challenges, and policies in inland waterway transport
- Safety measures in river shipping
- River shipping operation case studies (e.g., Mekong River, Yangtze River)
- Infrastructure and Ecosystems
- River port development models
- Canal construction and operation
- Ecosystems for river-city interfaces
- Barging systems in river transport
- Regional Focus and Case Studies
- Best practices and innovations in the Mekong River Basin
- Comparative studies of inland waterway transport systems across regions
- River cruiser tourism and sustainable development
This conference aims to foster collaboration and innovation, paving the way for the future of sustainable inland waterway transport and logistics. Participants are encouraged to submit their research and contribute to meaningful discussions that will shape tomorrow's policies and practices.
Conference Co-Chairperson:
• Professor Paul Tae-Woo Lee
Director, Maritime Logistics and Free Trade Islands Research Center
Ocean College, Zhejiang University, China
• Associate Professor Somchanok Passakonjaras
Head, Commerce Department
Chulalongkorn Business School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Associate Professor Tartat Mokkhamakkul
Dean, Chulalongkorn Business School
Program Advisor, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Associate Professor Siri-on Setamanit
Director, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program
Graduate School, and Chulalongkorn Business School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Dr. Piyatida Pianluprasidh
Dean, School of Management
Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
Conference Organizer:
• Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Chulalongkorn Business School, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
Conference Supporters:
• Transport Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)
• Yangtze-River Research Innovation and Belt (Y-RIB), China
• Jungseok Research Institute of International Logistics and Trade, Inha University, Republic of Korea.
Conference Secretary:
Ms. Chalita Ouparanong
Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program,
Graduate School, Chulalongkorn University
E-mail: iwt2025@chula.ac.th
International Organizing Committee:
- Adolf K.Y. Ng, University of International College, China
- Di Zhang, Wuhan University of Technology, China
- Gang Dong, Shanghai Maritime University, China
- Gensheng Zhao, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), China
- Ilkyeong Moon, Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
- Jasmine Siu Lee Lam, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
- Jihong Chen, Shenzhen University, China
- Jingbo Yin, Shanghai Jiatong University, China
- Kamonchanok Suthiwartnarueput, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
- Kevin X. Li, Zhejiang University, China
- Koichiro Tezuka, Nihon University, Japan
- Kyoung-Sook Choi, Jeonbuk National University, Republic of Korea
- Masato Ishii, Sophia University, Japan
- Ming K. Lim, University of Glasgow, UK
- Paul Tae-Woo Lee, Zhejiang University, China
- Piyatida Pianluprasidh, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand
- Prasanta Sahu, BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, India
- Prem Chhetri, RMIT University, Australia
- Shiyuan Zheng, Shanghai Maritime University, China
- Siri-on Setamanit, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
- Soohan Woo, Choong-Ang University, Republic of Korea
- Theo Notteboom, Ghent University, Belgium
- Tran Duc Phu, Vietnam Maritime University, Vietnam
- Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
- Xiaowen Fu, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China
- Xuehao Feng, Zhejiang University, China
- Yingen Ge, Chang’an University, China
- Yongjin Kim, Inha University, Republic of Korea
- Zaili Yang, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
- Zhongzhen Yang, Ningbo University, China
Local Organizing Committee:
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Tartat Mokkhamakkul, Chulalongkorn Business School
- Somchanok Passakonjaras, Department of Commerce, Chulalongkorn Business School
- Siri-on Setamanit, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School & Chulalongkorn Business School
- Paveena Chaovalitwongse, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School
- Danupon Ariyasajjakorn, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School
- Saksith Chalermpong, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School
- Sineenat Sermcheep, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School
- Chackrit Duangphastra, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School & Chulalongkorn Business School
- Nuttapol Assarut, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School & Chulalongkorn Business School
- Krisana Visamitanan, Logistics and Supply Chain Management Program, Graduate School & Chulalongkorn Business School
Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand
- Piyatida Pianluprasidh, School of Management
- Tipavinee Suwanwong Rodbundith, Aviation Business Management, School of Management
- Korawit Fakkhong, Aviation Business Management, School of Management
- Tarittawan Chareanporn, Aviation Business Management, School of Management
- Nattaphon Rangsaritvorakarn, Aviation Business Management, School of Management
- Popkarn Arwatchanakarn, Economics, School of Management
- Pornwasin Sirisawat, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- Narat Hasachoo, Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Keynote Speech Topic:
Net Zero vs. Carbon Neutrality: Exploring the Challenges and Future Research Agenda
• Keynote speaker: Professor Ming K. Lim, BEng(Hons) PhD FIoC CMILT
Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications
Prof Lim obtained his PhD in Manufacturing Systems from University of Exeter (UK) and B.Eng (Hons) in Manufacturing Engineering from University of Liverpool (UK). He is currently Professor of Supply Chain Management and Digitalisation at Adam Smith Business School at the University of Glasgow (UK). Prior to this, he was Executive Dean of College of Mechanical Engineering at Chongqing University (China) and Professor of Supply Chain and Operations Management at Coventry University (UK). Prof Lim’s research is multi-disciplinary, integrating engineering, computer science, information technology and operations management. Most of his recent research work revolved around Industry 4.0, Internet of Things, Blockchain, cloud manufacturing and big data analysis. His other research expertise includes circular economy, sharing economy, sustainable supply chain management, green/low carbon logistics, and lean & agile manufacturing, meta-heuristics, cost & system optimisation. Prof Lim has published over 375 articles in leading journals; he has been listed as the world's top 2% scientist by Stanford University/Elsevier, and Highly Ranked Scholar (Top 0.05% of 30 million scholars worldwide) by ScholarGPS.
He has been working with companies from manufacturing and logistics sectors in enhancing production and supply chain competitiveness, as well as in the implementation of RFID technology. The industrial collaborative projects involve large organisations, such as Toyota, Rolls-Royce, DHL, National Health Service NHS, Unilever, Alliance Boots, Tesco Express and Caterpillar, and a range of SMEs across different industries. He has also secured various UK and EU research grants, including EU-funded projects “CITADEL on the move” and “AdvIOT”. Up to present, Prof Lim has been awarded over £2.5m in research grants and industrial projects.
Prof Lim is Editor-in-Chief of International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications (Taylor & Francis, SSCI Q1). He is also the Chairman of European Business Innovation and Technology Management Society, Advisory Council Member and Board of Trustees of the Asia Pacific Business Innovation and Technology Management Society, and Member of IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing) WG 5.7. Furthermore, he also holds several editorial board positions at leading journals, such as Resources, Conservation and Recycling (Elsevier) and Industrial Management & Data Systems (Emerald).