Ms. Arzu BAL

I am a Research Assistant at Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Department of Maritime Transportation and Management Engineering, where I am also pursuing a PhD in Maritime Transportation and Management Engineering. My research interests include maritime decarbonisation, maritime emissions, sustainable shipping, maritime governance, international maritime policy, environmental sustainability, and energy transition.

I hold a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and a Master's degree in Maritime Transportation and Management Engineering. My master's thesis, Impact of Arctic Sea Ice Changes on LNG Shipping in the Context of Rising Global Energy Demand, examined the relationship between Arctic sea ice variability and LNG shipping using quantitative econometric methods.

My research has contributed to topics including Arctic shipping, maritime geopolitics, cruise ship waste management, seafarer supply, maritime sustainability, and environmental policy. I am currently conducting doctoral research on maritime decarbonisation while collaborating on an international research project exploring the social media experiences of women seafarers, with particular attention to professional visibility, gender inequality, and online harassment in the maritime sector.

I have gained international academic experience through study and research activities at World Maritime University, Batumi State Maritime Academy, Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Eszterházy Károly University. I am also a member of COST Action CA23159 – Decarbonising Waterborne Transportation (DeWaTra) and an alumnus of the Gender-Inclusive Leadership in Maritime programme at World Maritime University.

My long-term research aims to support evidence-based policies for environmentally sustainable, low-carbon, and inclusive maritime transport systems.