Complaint Process

Journal: African Journal of Offshore, Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture (AJOMENA)

  1. PURPOSE
    AJOMENA is committed to maintaining the highest standards of editorial integrity, transparency, and ethical publishing. This Complaint Process explains how concerns related to editorial practices, peer review, publication ethics, and journal administration are received, assessed, and resolved.

  2. SCOPE
    This process applies to complaints concerning, but not limited to:

  • Editorial decisions and manuscript handling

  • Peer review conduct, quality, or delays

  • Allegations of bias, discrimination, or conflicts of interest

  • Publication ethics issues (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, duplicate publication)

  • Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern

  • Journal policies, procedures, or staff conduct

Complaints regarding the scientific content of published articles must be supported by clear and verifiable evidence.

  1. WHO MAY SUBMIT A COMPLAINT
    Complaints may be submitted by authors, reviewers, editors, readers, or other stakeholders with a legitimate interest in AJOMENA’s publishing activities.

  2. SUBMISSION OF COMPLAINTS
    Complaints must be submitted in writing via the official AJOMENA contact email or the journal’s online submission system. Submissions should include:

  • Name and contact details of the complainant

  • A clear and concise description of the complaint

  • Manuscript or article title, reference number, and publication details (if applicable)

  • Relevant supporting documentation or evidence

Anonymous complaints may be considered at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief, particularly where serious ethical concerns are raised and adequate evidence is provided.

  1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
    Receipt of complaints will be acknowledged within 5–10 working days, outlining the next steps and an indicative timeline for review.

  2. INITIAL ASSESSMENT
    The Editor-in-Chief, or a delegated senior editor, will conduct an initial assessment to determine whether the complaint:

  • Falls within the journal’s remit

  • Contains sufficient information for evaluation

  • Requires immediate action due to the nature of the allegation

Complaints that fall outside the scope of AJOMENA will be declined with appropriate guidance where possible.

  1. INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE
    Complaints will be handled proportionately according to their nature and seriousness:

  • Administrative or editorial issues may be resolved internally

  • Ethical complaints will be investigated in accordance with Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines

  • Independent editorial board members or external experts without conflicts of interest may be consulted

All parties involved will be given a fair opportunity to respond before a decision is reached.

  1. DECISION AND OUTCOMES
    Following investigation, AJOMENA may implement one or more of the following actions:

  • Provide clarification or explanation

  • Issue a formal apology where appropriate

  • Publish a correction, retraction, or expression of concern

  • Review or revise editorial policies or procedures

  • Apply corrective or disciplinary measures where justified

The complainant will be informed of the outcome and the rationale for the decision.

  1. APPEALS
    Appeals against decisions must be submitted within 14 days of notification and must clearly state the grounds for appeal. Appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the Editorial Board or an independent advisor. Appeal decisions are final.

  2. CONFIDENTIALITY
    All complaints are handled confidentially. Information will be disclosed only to individuals directly involved in the assessment or investigation and in accordance with applicable data protection policies.

  3. RECORD KEEPING
    AJOMENA maintains secure records of complaints, investigations, and outcomes to support transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.

  4. REVIEW OF THIS POLICY
    This Complaint Process is reviewed periodically to ensure consistency with COPE guidance and evolving scholarly publishing standards.

AJOMENA is committed to the fair, timely, and respectful resolution of complaints and to upholding trust in scholarly publishing.