The maritime industry’s increasing integration of IT/OT systems into vessel operations has significantly elevated its exposure to cyber–physical threats, making the development of effective cyber risk management strategies a necessity. This paper provides an outlook of the current landscape of cyber security threats and vulnerabilities for the maritime sector and vessels. An outline of the relevant governmental and industry directives, standards, and guidelines for cyber security in maritime vessels is given. Considering maritime vessels as critical elements of the maritime critical infrastructure sector, a number of relevant cyber–physical security assessment methods are presented. Bridging cyber–physical security, process safety, and security, API SRA (American Petroleum Institute Security Risk Analysis) and BTA (Bow-Tie Analysis) are presented as the most applicable cyber–physical security assessment methods for complex maritime vessels, such as an offshore oil and gas drillship. The scenario of a cyber-attack on the Dynamic Positioning (DP) system of a drillship is presented with the use of API SRA and BTA. The difficulties in the implementation of NIST CSF v2.0 and IACS UR E26 and UR E27 in the maritime sector are also discussed. The need for intensified research on and the formulation of bespoke cyber security measures to mitigate the evolving cyber threats within the maritime domain is highlighted. The need for the allocation of training and resources for the reinforcement of the capacity of a maritime vessel’s crew in the mitigation of cyber threats and safe maritime operations is emphasized.

Renewable energy sources increase their share in the energy mix and, therefore it is important to accommodate variability in energy production. In this study, a hybrid approach is evaluated where a combination of batteries and compressed air are used together with seawater reverse osmosis in order to match renewable energy against electricity and water needs. Especially in remote islands renewable energy-powered desalination is an attractive option. These technologies are tested on a semi-submersible floating platform, accommodating an offshore wind turbine, a photovoltaic system and a reverse osmosis seawater desalination. The floating offshore system can deliver both fresh water and electricity in a dynamic configuration. Simulations of different operating strategies have been examined and show that sustainable solutions can be achieved.

The transition to a low-carbon future necessitates innovative approaches to renewable energy deployment, particularly in the marine environment, where abundant resources remain underutilized. This paper explores the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems and green hydrogen production to address the energy challenges faced by Very Small Islands (VSIs). These islands heavily rely on imported fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to global price fluctuations and contributing to economic instability and environmental degradation. Offshore floating platforms present a transformative opportunity by harnessing marine renewable resources, integrating wind, solar, and wave energy to maximize energy production while minimizing land use conflicts. Green hydrogen, produced through the electrolysis of seawater, powered by these renewable sources, offers a sustainable alternative for decarbonizing transportation, particularly in the maritime sector. The study aims to assess the feasibility of converting small conventional passenger vessels to hydrogen propulsion and evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental impacts of deploying offshore platforms for hydrogen production. By examining these aspects, this research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable energy solutions for island communities and provides actionable insights into implementing renewable hydrogen-based maritime transport.

Background Even though several initiatives have been undertaken in different locations worldwide to collect clinical data in homeopathy, it is important to further investigate these aspects in the context of health care in India. Objective The study aimed to gather and analyze patients' clinical data and to derive insights into homeopathic treatment using an internet-based software program for data storage, retrieval and repertorization. Methods A multi-center observational study was conducted across 14 homeopathy outpatient clinics in India that are affiliated with the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH). Patient symptoms and demographic details were documented anonymously, and prescriptions were guided by repertorial suggestions from the Vithoulkas Compass software. During follow-up visits, treatment outcome was also recorded using an online assessment form. A retrospective analysis of data on patients' demographics, follow-up visits, morbidity (International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision), rubrics used, prescribed medicines and the level of improvement was achieved using Microsoft Excel-generated pivot tables. Results Throughout the study duration of one year a total of 2,811 patients attended the 14 outpatient clinics, of whom 2,468 were new patients with a total of 2,172 initial homeopathic prescription entries. Across the study, there were 3,491 prescriptions and 1,628 follow-up consultations for 868 follow-up patients, all of which data were thoroughly analyzed. The highest frequency of patients was in the 20–49 age group, and a higher proportion of the patients overall was female. Musculoskeletal, dermatological and respiratory complaints were the most frequently reported. The rubrics “Desire for sweets” and “Desire for spices” emerged as the most commonly used in the repertorizations. Further, Sulphur stood out as the most commonly prescribed medicine overall. With homeopathic treatment, some degree of clinical improvement was reported in 86% of the follow-up cases. Conclusion Homeopathy is prescribed in CCRH outpatient clinics for a wide range of ailments in people across India, with at least some clinical improvement noted in a high proportion of those patients. The large-scale systematic data collection in these clinics has provided clear insights into the use and clinical value of homeopathy in India, with the potential to build a substantive nationwide data inventory over time.

The transition to a low-carbon future necessitates innovative approaches to renewable energy deployment, particularly in the marine environment, where abundant resources remain underutilized. This paper explores the potential of hybrid renewable energy systems and green hydrogen production to address the energy challenges faced by Very Small Islands (VSIs). These islands heavily rely on imported fossil fuels, making them vulnerable to global price fluctuations and contributing to economic instability and environmental degradation. Offshore floating platforms present a transformative opportunity by harnessing marine renewable resources, integrating wind, solar, and wave energy to maximize energy production while minimizing land use conflicts. Green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis of sea water, powered by these renewable sources, offers a sustainable alternative for decarbonizing transportation, particularly in the maritime sector. The study aims to assess the feasibility of converting small conventional passenger vessel to hydrogen propulsion and evaluate the technical, economic, and environmental impacts of deploying offshore platform for hydrogen production. By examining these aspects, this research contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable energy solutions for island communities and provides actionable insights into implementing renewable hydrogen-based maritime transport.

Background: Decision-making in homeopathic practice is a highly complex process. Although guidelines for a successful prescription have been set, homeopathic practitioners consciously and unconsciously make use of heuristics ('rules of thumb' /mental shortcuts) in order to reduce this complexity and reach a remedy decision. Whilst biases affecting the reliability of repertory rubrics are now better understood, biases associated with the actual decision-making process are still under-researched. Objectives: Methods: The literature on heuristics and biases that can affect decision-making was searched. Those deemed relevant for decision-making in homeopathic practice were identified. The role that a clinical decision support system (Vithoulkas Compass) can play in minimizing the identified biases was assessed. Outcomes: The role and implications of the availability heuristic, the representativeness heuristic, the anchoring heuristic as well as confirmation bias will be explained. Repertory software and decision support systems are important tools for improving the quality of homeopathic decision-making. The most important proposed and illustrated innovations are: Conclusions: The Vithoulkas Compass online homeopathic platform aims to integrate the latest knowledge on reducing biases in clinical decision-making. Optimal decision-making involves blending the useful aspects of heuristics with a slow thinking process that balances the tendency to ‘jump to the wrong conclusions’ as and when needed. Keywords: Decision-making, heuristic, bias, Vithoulkas Compass