Updates from the editorial desk

WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs https://doi.org/10.1007/s13437-022-00267-1 EDITORIAL Updates from the editorial desk Dong‑Wook Song1 © World Maritime University 2022 Having put behind the twentieth volume of the WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs (JOMA) last year, we are now facing the year 2022 ahead. The last couple of years could be remembered as the period when the abnormality became the normality. Fortunately, however, we are now moving on to the phase where such normality is soon likely to get its ordinary position. Nevertheless, it is naturally expected that the restored normality would be different from that of the pre-pandemic stage. But the human history vindicates that human beings are always adoptable and/or adjustable in accordance with the ever-changing circumstances and environment. It is hoped that all those JOMA readers get better prepared for those years to come by sharpening their ‘research sword’. Turning to the journal matters, I would like to update you an interesting development made so far and plan to be implemented in future. Personally, I am greatly encouraged and motivated by the fact that the growing eagerness and willingness of journal readerships to make a contribution to JOMA in a way or another as a reviewer, an author or other capacities. More specifically, there are a few good things to share with you: – The publishing and editorial team of JOMA does still work on the way towards inclusion of the Social Sciences Citation Indexed (SSCI). It will take some (hopefully, two–three) years to be covered by the Web of Science as a part of SSCI. – One of the key evaluating criteria for gaining the successful inclusion is a strong team of editorial board members that works together to enhance the JOMA’s academic influence, impact and international presence. You will see the newly composed members for the purpose from this issue. Their presence as an editorial board member will certainly enhance the quality of published articles by conducting a gatekeeping role in their respective academic field. Please join me by welcoming them on board. – JOMA has received a steadily growing number of manuscript submissions during the year of 2021 as was the case of the previous year. The acceptance rate has * Dong‑Wook Song 1 World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden 13 Vol.:(0123456789) D.-W. Song inevitably dropped due to the limited space for publications. Increasing either the page number of each issue or the issue number of each volume will be an option, as long as this developmental pattern becomes stable. I shall keep close eyes on the trend and take necessary action in due course. Of course, you will be accordingly updated. The baseline is, however, the scientific quality and significance of the submissions. You are kindly referred to the last editorial of mine (Song 2021) for it. – Each volume has, as careful readers might observe, one special issue dedicated to a selective topic. Some of you and/or your team are always welcome to initiate such a special issue and encouraged to contact your editor-in-chief with a drafted Call for Papers for further discussion. A sample for your reference can be found at the journal’s website (see the section of ‘Journal Updates’). As promised at my first editorial (Song 2020), I will keep writing a series of editorial on topics that you are surely interested in as an author, a reviewer or other capacities. Finally, as was the case of the previous year, I am pleased to inform you that the annual ‘Best Paper Award’ and ‘Best Reviewer Award’ are now announced in the Announcement Section of this issue. Big thanks do duly go to all the contributing authors whose papers were published in the volume 20 and all reviewers who spared their valuable time with us for making a critical review on those papers appeared and to be appeared in forthcoming volume(s). I am, as usual, looking forward to receiving comments and feedbacks from you as a current and future contributor to the WMU Journal of Maritime Affairs. Please drop me an email whenever you feel it could be helpful, useful and insightful to the common good of the journal. Wish you enjoy reading the first issue of 2022. Dong-Wook Song Editor-in-Chief References Song D-W (2020) Editorial: looking back for the future. WMU J Marit Aff 19(1):1–3 Song D-W (2021) Editorial: what is research? WMU J Marit Aff 20(4):407–411 Publisher’s Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. 13  (...truncated)