The academic journal Studia Maritima publishes only original scholarly articles based on the authors’ own research, which have not been previously published or submitted for publication in other journals. It is possible to submit a revised or expanded version of a previously published article, provided that the changes are substantial and appropriately documented. In the case of co-authorship, all contributors and their affiliations must be disclosed. Each author must hold the rights to the content of the submitted article.
All submitted articles are evaluated for compliance with publication ethics and authenticity. The editorial board of Studia Maritima is committed to upholding the highest ethical standards as defined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Ghostwriting and guest authorship are not acceptable. Any instances of academic misconduct, including ghostwriting, guest authorship, plagiarism, or data falsification, will be exposed and reported to the appropriate academic institutions.
1. Studia Maritima implements strict procedures for detecting academic misconduct, which is regarded as a serious violation of scholarly integrity and ethical standards. Such misconduct undermines the credibility, independence, and reliability of academic research.
2. To ensure the originality and academic value of submitted manuscripts, the Editorial Board uses the professional anti-plagiarism software Plagiat.pl.
3. The plagiarism analysis is based on one of the most comprehensive databases available in Poland. This includes:
4. The results of the plagiarism analysis are presented in a clear and detailed report, indicating all identified similarities and borrowings within the submitted text.
5. The anti-plagiarism system used by the journal complies with all applicable privacy and data protection standards in accordance with national and international legislation.
6. The following are considered serious breaches of academic integrity:
a. Plagiarism – claiming authorship of, or misleading readers about, the authorship of all or part of someone else's work or performance.
b. Self-plagiarism – reusing substantial parts of one’s own previously published work without proper citation or acknowledgment.
c. Guest authorship – listing as an author someone who did not significantly contribute to the publication or whose involvement was negligible.
d. Ghostwriting – failing to acknowledge individuals who made substantial contributions to the manuscript and who should rightfully be listed as authors or co-authors.
These rules, drafted on the basis of the position expressed by the Association of University Presses on using generative artificial intelligence (GAI) in scholarly papers, lay down the rules for responsible use of AI tools in creating and publishing texts, graphic content, illustrations and charts. They aim to ensure scholarly reliability, transparency and respect for copyright.
1. Only a human being may be an author of a scholarly paper. AI tools (including chatbots such as ChatGTP) cannot be deemed authors/co-authors or quoted as authors since they do not meet fundamental criteria resulting from the definition of authorship; in particular, they may not be held responsible for reliability, integrity or originality of a paper. These tools do not have the capacity to perform acts in law, they cannot manage copyright, nor are they able to recognize the occurrence or lack of a conflict of interests. AI tools may support the Author in editing or translating the manuscript, in data analysis or preparation of graphical content, provided that they do not replace independent and creative scientific contribution.
2. Authors who use AI tools when writing their texts, gathering and analysing data or creating graphical elements are obliged to disclose, fairly and fully transparently, which AI tool they have used, how and to what extent, and how it has affected a given manuscript.
3. AI may be used to do language editing and to improve readability of a manuscript, but it cannot replace key creative processes, such as formulating scientific conclusions, elaborating observations or generating research results.
4. Authors bear full responsibility for the content of a submitted manuscript and for all fragments that have been created using IT tools and are thus responsible for any possible breaches of publishing ethics. Tools such as ChatGTP have limitations that must be taken account of. The following are important in particular:
a. hallucination, that is generating false information that sounds reliable and correct at the linguistics level,
b. plagiarism, direct citations or appropriation of an idea without crediting the author,
c. generating false bibliographical descriptions or even entire references.
5. Each use of IT tools should be disclosed in the content of the work (e.g. in a footnote, in the abstract, in the “Methods” or “Acknowledgments” sections) by providing:
a. the name of the tool used together with its version/model,
b. the extent to which it has been used (e.g. language editing, generating an illustration, data analysis) along with the commands (prompts) used or a brief description of how it was used (e.g. types of queries/commands).
6. Additionally, each author must submit to the Editors a relevant declaration on the use of AI-assisted tools in creating their work, including chatbots, large language models (LLM) or image generators, along with a detailed description of why, how and to what extent they have been used. A declaration template constitutes a schedule hereto. File available in: FORMS AND DECLARATIONS (file to download).
7. Creation of images and videos by generative AI has caused infringements of copyright and principles reliability in research. In observing the copyright in force and best practices of the publishing ethics, the Editors do not allow the use of those materials in publications, unless they are the substance of research in a given paper. Such cases should each time be justified upon manuscript submission and are evaluated individually by editors and reviewers. The Editors allow the use of AI tools to prepare supporting illustrations and data visualizations, provided that:
a. sources of this data are reliable and documented,
b. the graphics do not infringe on copyright or licenses,
c. materials bear the label “Generated with the use of AI” (if applicable),
d. meet data transparency principles (FAIR Data Principles), if this is scientific data.
8. All materials sent to the journal’s Editors are subject to verification in an anti-plagiarism system that also detects the use of AI tools.
9. Rules for Reviewers and Editors on using artificial intelligence (AI) tools:
a. Reviewers and Editors bear full responsibility for reliability, thoroughness and integrity of the review and editing process. They must ensure that no part of the work has been processed by AI without relevant consent from the Author or without disclosing this fact.
b. IA use transparency, confidentiality protection and responsibility for the content of the work are key principles that must be observed at each stage of the publishing process.
c. Manuscript confidentiality is a fundamental issue at each stage of the publishing process. All manuscripts and correspondence relating to publication are treated as confidential documents. Feeding them into AI tools without the Author’s consent is forbidden.
d. The journal’s Reviewers, Editors and the Editing Teams cannot use AI tools to assess submissions or to draft reviews. Assessment of a scholarly paper requires critical thinking and a thorough analysis that go beyond the capabilities of artificial intelligence and may be done only by a human.
The University of Szczecin Press, including the journal Studia Maritima, operates in accordance with recommendations of the Association of University Presses as its member: Stanowisko i rekomendacje Stowarzyszenia Wydawców Szkół Wyższych w kwestii stosowania narzędzi generatywnej sztucznej inteligencji (GAI) w pisaniu prac naukowych.
Editorial Decisions: The editorial team of Studia Maritima is composed of editors representing various historical periods and research disciplines. Manuscripts are evaluated for relevance to the journal’s scope, originality, scholarly significance, and editorial quality. All submissions undergo a double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers. In the case of one negative review, the editors consult with members of the Editorial Board or appoint a third reviewer.
Transparency of the Process: The entire editorial process is managed through the electronic publishing system of the University of Szczecin Press. Authors are informed at each stage of the editorial workflow: acceptance, rejection, review results, revisions, typesetting, and publication. Articles are first published in print, then made available electronically and indexed in academic databases. Each author receives one complimentary copy of the journal issue.
Ethical Standards: The editorial team adheres to the guidelines of COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) and takes all necessary measures to prevent publication misconduct, including plagiarism, self-plagiarism, data fabrication, and manipulation.
Confidentiality: Submitted manuscripts are treated as confidential. The editorial team does not disclose any information about a manuscript to individuals not directly involved in the editorial process. Unpublished materials may not be used by editors or members of the Editorial Board in their own research without the authors’ written consent.
Integrity of the Scholarly Record: The editorial team is responsible for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the published content. If misconduct such as plagiarism, self-plagiarism, ghostwriting, guest authorship, or data fabrication is identified, appropriate corrective actions will be taken, including issuing an erratum, clarification, or retraction of the article.
Avoidance of Conflicts of Interest: Editors are required to avoid any situations that could lead to conflicts of interest—personal, professional, or financial. In cases of potential conflict (e.g., personal relationships, prior academic collaboration, or hierarchical dependence on the author), the editor must disclose the situation and recuse themselves from the decision-making process. The journal ensures transparent and impartial handling of every submission.
Article Withdrawal: Studia Maritima is an Open Access journal. Authors may withdraw their manuscript at any stage before signing the license agreement without incurring any fees. Withdrawal after acceptance is permitted only under exceptional and justified circumstances, such as:
– discovery of a significant scientific error,
– lack of co-author consent,
– dispute among authors regarding contribution,
– plagiarism or self-plagiarism,
– violation of research ethics,
– duplicate submission (i.e., the article has been submitted to another journal).
In such cases, the author must submit a written request stating the reasons for withdrawal. The editorial board will review the justification and assess the request in accordance with COPE guidelines.
1. Originality and Avoidance of Plagiarism
Authors are required to submit only original scientific manuscripts. All borrowed materials (quotes, data, concepts) must be clearly identified and properly cited. The Editorial Board uses professional plagiarism detection software (Plagiat.pl) to verify the originality of submitted texts.
2. Citation of Sources
Each article must include a complete bibliography listing all cited and paraphrased publications. Authors are obliged to accurately document all sources, including online materials, legal acts, archival resources, and relevant literature.
3. Duplicate and Secondary Publication
Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to more than one journal (duplicate publication) is prohibited. In the case of secondary publication (e.g., translation of a previously published article), permission must be obtained from the original publisher, and an appropriate note must be included in the article.
4. Corrections and Responsibility for Errors
Authors must implement all necessary corrections based on reviewers’ and editors’ comments. After publication, authors are obliged to notify the Editorial Board of significant errors and cooperate in issuing corrections or withdrawing the publication if needed.
5. Authorship and Responsibility
Only those who have made a substantial intellectual contribution to the work may be listed as authors. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. Practices such as ghostwriting (omission of actual authors) and guest authorship (crediting individuals who did not contribute) are considered serious breaches of publishing ethics.
6. Conflict of Interest
Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest—financial, institutional, or personal—that could influence the interpretation of the research results.
7. Funding and Institutional Contributions
Authors should disclose all sources of research funding as well as the contributions of scientific institutions, organizations, or other entities involved in preparing the publication.
8. Author Declarations
Submission of a signed Author Declaration Form, available in the “Documents and Forms” section on the Studia Maritima website, is a prerequisite for publication. The form includes:
1. Participation in Editorial Decisions
Reviewers support the editorial board in making decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts. Their reviews should be objective, constructive, and provide clear guidance to authors on how to improve their work.
2. Competence and Timeliness
Reviewers should only accept assignments within their field of expertise. If unable to complete a review or lacking the necessary expertise, they must promptly inform the editorial office and decline the assignment.
3. Confidentiality
All materials sent for review are confidential. Reviewers must not disclose or use any information from the manuscripts for personal advantage without the permission of the editors and authors.
4. Objectivity and Conflict of Interest
Reviews must be unbiased and free of personal prejudice. Reviewers are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest (personal, professional, or academic) that may affect their impartiality. They must sign a conflict of interest declaration available in the "Documents and Forms" section on the journal’s website.
5. Substantive and Fair Evaluation
Reviewers should thoroughly assess the originality, scientific significance, methodological soundness, and completeness of citations in the manuscript. They should highlight any important relevant publications that are missing.
6. Reporting Similarities and Ethical Concerns
If reviewers detect substantial similarities to other works or suspect unethical practices (e.g., plagiarism), they are obligated to inform the editorial board immediately.
7. Clarity and Constructive Criticism
Comments should be clear, polite, and aimed at helping authors improve their manuscripts. Criticism must be professional and avoid personal remarks.
8. Collaboration with the Editorial Office
Reviewers should respond to editorial queries and, if necessary, engage in further stages of manuscript evaluation.
Composition:
The Editorial Board of Studia Maritima consists of distinguished scholars representing various countries and academic institutions. Members possess expertise aligned with the journal’s thematic scope and have international research and professional experience.
Role:
Members of the Editorial Board serve an advisory role to the editorial team. They support decision-making in cases requiring additional expertise, such as conflicting peer reviews. They also engage in promoting the journal within the academic community and may recommend reviewers and authors.
Ethical Principles:
Members of the Editorial Board are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in publishing activities. In particular:
If a conflict of interest arises, the Board member should promptly notify the editorial office and refrain from participating in the assessment of the manuscript or indicate the need to be excluded from the relevant stage of the editorial process.
Adherence to COPE Guidelines:
The Editorial Board operates in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Members are required to promote and comply with the ethical standards recommended by COPE, including reporting suspected cases of publication ethics violations such as plagiarism, data fabrication, or unethical authorship practices.
Additional information, document templates, and the review procedure are available in the relevant sections on the Studia Maritima journal website.
