Systems Engineering for Leagile Ship Repair: An Arctic Experimental Study

Abstract

Global trade increasingly relies on maritime transport, and Arctic shipping routes— linking the Atlantic and Pacific via the Northern Sea Route—are emerging as strategic corridors, projected to handle 10–15% of global maritime trade by mid-century. As competition intensifies between major players such as China, Russia, and the ICE Pact (a trilateral partnership between the United States, Canada and Finland), Arctic shipyards must be strategically positioned to offer timely, efficient, and high-quality ship repairservices. These capabilities are critical to enhancing operational continuity and increasing the competitiveness of Arctic shipping operations. Despite investments in specialised icebreaker fleets, the demand for robust, adaptive, and digitally enabled ship repair services remains urgent. Ship repair operations are inherently unpredictable, often disrupted by changing inspection outcomes and shifting customer requirements. These uncertainties can severely affect scheduling, resource allocation, and production planning—posing risks to continuous Arctic operations. To address these challenges, this study proposes an integrated Leagile strategy that combines Lean principles for efficiency with Agile practices for flexibility. Central to this strategy is the use of SysML (Systems Modelling Language) to structure, model, and support system-wide decision-making and process optimisation across a ship repair shipyard, achieving time efficiency and cost benefits. A usage of an experimental case study to demonstrate the practical application of this approach The integration of Leagile practices with SysML modelling offers a robust framework for navigating the complex demands of Arctic ship repair. This approach enhances responsiveness to disruptions, improves planning accuracy, and minimises non-value-added activities. It also strengthens collaboration across technical and managerial domains, supporting a more synchronised and data-driven operation. In summary, the proposed Leagile structure through SysML enables Arctic shipyards to deliver faster, more innovative, and more resilient repair services. This positions them as vital enablers of uninterrupted Arctic shipping, advancing both regional capabilities and global maritime resilience.