Publication Ethics

The publication of scientific articles in the Herald of ONMU is an important component in the formation of reliable scientific knowledge and the development of the water transport sector. The Editorial Board adheres to international standards of publication ethics and ensures transparency and objectivity at all stages of the editorial process.

The ethical policy of the journal is based on the principles developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics, which defines best practices in scholarly publishing. These principles aim to ensure integrity, transparency, and trust in scientific research.

The Editorial Board follows the following fundamental principles:

scientific validity and soundness of research results;
originality of submitted materials;
transparency of the peer review process;
absence of discrimination of any kind;
respect for copyright and proper citation of sources.

A scientific publication is not merely a text, but an element of a coherent system of knowledge that exists only where trust is maintained.

Authors’ Responsibilities

By submitting a manuscript to the journal, authors confirm that:

the work is original and has not been previously published;
all sources used are properly cited;
the research results are accurate and not falsified;
all individuals who made a significant contribution to the research are listed as co-authors;
any conflicts of interest are disclosed or explicitly stated as absent.

Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, fabrication or falsification of data, and manipulation of authorship are unacceptable. Such violations undermine trust in science and may lead to rejection or retraction of the article.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers provide independent expert evaluation of submitted manuscripts and are required to:

conduct objective and unbiased reviews;
maintain confidentiality of the information received;
report any suspected ethical violations (plagiarism, duplicate publication, etc.);
avoid conflicts of interest.

Peer review is one of the key mechanisms for ensuring the quality of scientific publications and reflects the principle of trust in the academic environment.

Editorial Responsibilities

The Editorial Board:

makes publication decisions based on the scientific value of the manuscript;
ensures objectivity and transparency of the peer review process;
monitors compliance with ethical standards;
considers cases of potential misconduct and takes appropriate action (corrections, retraction, etc.).

In the event of detected violations, the Editorial Board acts in accordance with international guidelines and may initiate correction or retraction procedures to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Plagiarism Prevention

The Editorial Board of the Herald of ONMU pays special attention to ensuring academic integrity and preventing plagiarism in scientific publications. Compliance with the principles of originality and proper citation is a mandatory requirement for manuscript consideration.

Plagiarism in any form is unacceptable and is considered a serious violation of academic ethics.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes:

the use of others’ texts, ideas, or research results without proper attribution;
partial copying of text fragments without citation;
self-plagiarism (reuse of one’s own previously published materials without appropriate reference);
paraphrasing of another author’s work without citation;
use of translated materials without indicating the original source.

Plagiarism Screening

All manuscripts are checked for plagiarism using the StrikePlagiarism software provided by the Polish company Plagiat.pl.

The decision on the acceptability of a manuscript is based not only on the similarity percentage but also on the nature and context of the identified overlaps.

Authors’ Requirements

Authors are required to:

submit only original works;
properly acknowledge all borrowed materials;
use accurate and complete bibliographic references;
avoid duplicate publications;
indicate all sources of information used.

Submission of a manuscript implies that the author confirms compliance with the principles of academic integrity.

Actions in Case of Plagiarism

If signs of plagiarism are detected during the review process:

the manuscript will be rejected without the right to resubmit it in its current form;
the author may be provided with explanations regarding the identified violations.

Conflict of Interest Policy

The Editorial Board of the Herald of ONMU strives to ensure objectivity, transparency, and impartiality at all stages of the editorial process. One of the key aspects of maintaining these principles is the proper identification and management of conflicts of interest.

A conflict of interest may arise when personal, professional, or financial relationships could influence, or appear to influence, the results of research, the peer review process, or editorial decisions.

Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest includes, but is not limited to:

financial relationships (grants, funding, commercial interests);
professional relationships (joint projects, subordination, collaboration);
personal relationships (family or other close connections);
academic competition or conflicts.

Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors are required to:

disclose any existing or potential conflicts of interest in the submitted manuscript;
declare sources of research funding;
indicate any factors that may influence the interpretation of the results.

If no conflict of interest exists, authors must explicitly state this in the manuscript.

Reviewers’ Responsibilities

Reviewers must:

inform the Editorial Board of any potential conflicts of interest;
decline to review a manuscript if there is a risk of bias;
ensure objective and impartial evaluation.

Editors’ Responsibilities

Editors are required to:

make publication decisions solely based on the scientific merit of the manuscript;
avoid influence from personal or commercial interests;
refrain from handling manuscripts in which they have a conflict of interest;
ensure transparency of the editorial process.

Disclosure

All information regarding conflicts of interest must be clearly disclosed in the publication or accompanying documents.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to request additional explanations or supporting documentation if necessary.

Policy on Ethical Approval of Research

The Herald of ONMU adheres to international standards of research ethics and requires strict compliance with ethical principles in all studies submitted for publication.

All research involving human participants or animals must be conducted in accordance with applicable ethical standards and regulations.

Research Involving Human Participants

For studies involving human participants, authors must:

obtain approval from an appropriate ethics committee (Institutional Review Board or equivalent body);
ensure informed consent from all participants;
guarantee confidentiality and protection of personal data;
comply with internationally recognized ethical standards for research involving humans.

Information regarding ethical approval must be clearly stated in the manuscript.

Use of Data and Materials

When using data obtained from third parties, authors must:

have appropriate permissions for their use;
comply with confidentiality requirements;
ensure the lawful acquisition and use of such data.

Authors’ Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for:

compliance with ethical standards in research;
the accuracy of information regarding ethical approval;
proper reporting of the conditions under which the research was conducted.

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject a manuscript if appropriate ethical approval is not provided.

Verification and Control

The Editorial Board may:

request supporting documentation confirming ethical approval;
reject manuscripts that do not meet ethical requirements;
initiate additional review in cases of concern.