Maritime supply chains (MSCs) are pivotal to the global economy yet face persistent challenges from external volatility, fragmented collaboration, and sustainability mandates. While consortium blockchain technology is heralded as a transformative solution, its adoption remains underexplored and lacks a holistic analytical framework. This study addresses this gap by conducting a systematic literature review of 81 studies to develop a comprehensive framework. The findings reveal that consortium blockchain adoption is not a binary event but a dynamic process shaped by the interplay of technological, organizational, and environmental factors. The analysis demonstrates that heterogeneous actors—governments, shipping lines, ports, and freight forwarders—assume distinct roles as drivers, pioneers, followers, or skeptics based on absorb capacity costs versus capture value within the emerging ecosystem. The successful transition from a technical platform to an operational system depends on a structured, multi-stage workflow encompassing identity authentication, smart contract collaboration, execution monitoring, and disintermediated payment settlement. Furthermore, this study identifies dual effects. While blockchain enhances efficiency, transparency, and sustainability, it simultaneously introduces power imbalances, systemic rigidity, and market concentration risks. By elucidating the strategic dynamics of adoption, operational implementation mechanisms, and paradoxical outcomes, this study provides a nuanced understanding of how consortium blockchain revolutionizes MSCs.
Priscila Bayer de Oliveira Simões, CESAR AUGUSTO MASSARO, ROBERTO PINHEIRO PAVECK, MARCELO SCHNECK DE PAULA PESSÔA · 5 authors
A crescente complexidade do comércio internacional ressalta a importância dos PortCommunity Systems (PCS) para a eficiência portuária. Porém, a literatura carece deuma consolidação sistemática das boas práticas de tecnologia para tais sistemas. Esteestudo tem como objetivo identificar, analisar e categorizar tais práticas por meio deuma revisão de literatura e análise de conteúdo. A pesquisa foi realizada nas bases dedados Scopus e Web of Science, que resultou na análise de 17 artigos acadêmicos.Os resultados identificaram dez categorias de boas práticas tecnológicas para PCS.As mais citadas são: adoção de tecnologias emergentes, interoperabilidade,governança, infraestrutura de TI e análise de dados. O estudo também revelou oitotecnologias emergentes cuja adoção constitui boas práticas de PCS, como Internetdas Coisas, inteligência artificial e blockchain, o que demonstra o foco da pesquisarecente em tais ferramentas. A categorização das boas práticas e a identificação dastecnologias relevantes fornecem uma visão abrangente que pode auxiliar gestoresportuários, desenvolvedores e pesquisadores a entenderem as tendências essenciaise a aprimorar a eficiência, transparência e competitividade nos portos.
Maritime shipping carries over 80% of global trade by volume, yet the information systems underpinning this vast network remain fragmented, proprietary, and mutually distrustful. This paper presents the Cascading Visibility Model (CVM), a theoretical framework formalizing how a single upstream data failure propagates non-linearly through carrier, port, customs, warehouse, and trucking handoffs. We introduce the Entropy Amplification Index (EAI) as a normalized measure of information loss per handoff layer, with estimated values exceeding 0.6 at the carrier-to-port boundary and approaching 0.8 at port-to-customs. We further characterize the Multi-Layer Trust Deficit as a maritime-specific prisoner's dilemma in which rational data hoarding by individual actors produces collectively catastrophic coordination failures. To address these failures, we propose the Distributed Vessel Trust Pool (DVTP), a protocol-layer architecture enabling multi-party vessel verification without requiring raw data disclosure. The DVTP uses physical impossibility detection anchored to third-party-generated port event timestamps that vessels cannot falsify, combined with zero-knowledge proof logic to trigger automatic cascade holds across interconnected ports. Three adversarial scenarios are analyzed theoretically. We compare the DVTP with the Portbase model and TradeLens failure to derive governance lessons. We also present a formal research agenda of eight hypotheses for empirical validation through discrete-event simulation. This paper is a theoretical framework and research agenda contribution. The EAI estimates presented are model-derived under stated assumptions; the DVTP architecture and its adversarial analysis are theoretical proposals; and the simulation design is specified for future execution.
With the expansion of international trade scale and the increasing demands for transportation capacity and operational reliability, this paper proposes a port-railway collaborative scheduling system driven by the integration of blockchain and AI. This system adopts the data sharing and anti-tampering mechanism of distributed ledgers, combines machine learning to improve the accuracy of scheduling decisions, thereby achieving self-tuning scheduling plans, intelligent prediction of transportation demands, and maximizing resource utilization. This intelligent scheduling system not only enhances efficiency and security, but also strengthens the synergy between ports and railways, reduces operational costs, and further improves scheduling quality and system reliability. Through practical case verification, it is proved that this system is effective in real scenarios.
Ports are facing growing demands to meet Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, which brings forward considerable difficulties in managing data transparently and reliably. This paper investigates the potential of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) to strengthen ESG practices within port operations by improving the clarity, traceability, and automation of emissions data. Through qualitative analysis of key case studies and a review of existing literature on DLT in maritime logistics, the research highlights how DLT offers a decentralized and tamper-resistant way to handle ESG data. At the same time, it addresses challenges related to technology scalability, integration with current systems, and gaining stakeholder support. The results offer important perspectives for ports and policymakers as they address these challenges, helping to promote sustainability and improve adherence to regulations in the global maritime industry.
Purpose In the existing era, international trade is boosted by maritime freight movement. The academicians and Government are concerned about environmental contamination caused by maritime goods that transit global growth and development. Digital technologies like blockchain help the maritime freight business to stay competitive in the digital age. This study aims to illuminate blockchain technology (BCT) adoption aspects to alleviate early industry adoption restrictions. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a two-stage approach comprising of structural equation modeling (SEM) with artificial neural networks (ANN) to analyze critical factors influencing the adoption of BCT in the sustainable maritime freight industry. Findings The SEM findings from this study illustrate that social, organizational, technological and infrastructual and institutional factors affect BCT execution. Furthermore, the ANN technique uses the SEM data to determine that sustainability enabled digital freight training (S3), initial investment cost (O5) and trust over digital technology (G1) are the most essential blockchain deployment factors. Originality/value The hybrid approach aims to help decision-makers and policymakers examine their organizational blockchain adoption goals to construct sustainable, efficient and effective maritime freight transportation.
The smart shipping and maritime technology encompass blockchain and smart contracts technology, information perception technology, intelligent decision-making technology, intelligent routing technology, marine communication network security technology, route planning technology, autonomous navigation technology, state monitoring and fault diagnosis technology and so on. Nevertheless, these advancements bring practical and legal challenges, as well as a new threat in the digital age: cybercrime. This paper deals with the key challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of digital technologies in shipping and transport such as smart contracts and unmanned ships, and how do cyber issues impact the safety, security, and efficiency of maritime operations. The first part examines the technological background into which smart contracts are integrated and operate, i.e. the terms blockchain and technology distributed ledger technology. The concept, the mechanism and the types of smart contracts in the maritime industry are further analysed. Also, the aspects of new technologies such as Autonomous Vessels and the challenges they raise are examined. The second part focuses on the legal potential of smart contracts examining their issues and the cyber challenges in the maritime industry. The critical remarks and conclusions drawn are listed at the end of the paper.
Abstract We address two interrelated issues affecting the hinterland portion of the maritime container supply chain: reducing the movement of empty containers and reducing empty trips by trucks carrying these containers. In this paper, we show that empty container flow optimization can be implemented via a blockchain based on the proof‐of‐useful‐work concept where the proof of work requires the solution of an ‐hard optimization problem whose solution benefits the blockchain participants. Accordingly, we propose that anonymous miners compete to solve the container truck routing problem, which seeks to find the most efficient routes for trucks. We show that this problem is ‐hard. Miners must also solve the problem of optimally matching consignees and shippers, which will reduce transportation and storage costs for empty containers. In essence, the proposed framework turns blockchain into a massive optimization engine that directly benefits the hinterland container supply chain ecosystem.
Innovations can help ports become smarter and more effective and differentiate themselves from competitors. This study aims to explore the current state of innovations and smart technologies at Brazilian ports. The study sampled sixteen ports, representing 70% of port movements in Brazilian public ports in 2021. This is an exploratory and descriptive field study involving qualitative analysis. The results show that the surveyed ports are seeking strategies to innovate. Only one of the surveyed ports had a registered patent. Half of all ports had agreements with educational/research institutions, companies, or other ports for developing innovations. By contrast, no port engaged in technology transfer contracts with educational/research institutions, companies, or other ports. Few surveyed ports collaborated with HUBs, laboratories, or innovation centres. The three most widely used smart technologies at the surveyed ports were cloud computing, automated systems, and drone technologies. This study shows that Brazilian ports are undergoing a transformation process, but they find themselves in different stages of maturity regarding the appropriation and development of new technologies. New technologies are still incipient for some ports, while others have yet to adopt them. For example, only a few surveyed ports used smart technologies such as the Internet of Things, blockchain technology, or automated systems. Innovations and the inclusion of new technologies can generate benefits, but they require time and financial resources.
Khiem Huynh Gia, Huong Hoang Luong, Hong Khanh Vo, Phuc Nguyen Trong · 14 authors
Current traditional shipping models are increas-ingly revealing many shortcomings and affecting the interests of sellers and buyers due to having to depend on trusted third parties. For example, the Cash-on-Delivery (CoD) model must depend on the carrier/shipper, or the Letter-of-Credit (LoC) model depends on the place of the Letter certification (i.e., bank). There have been many examples demonstrating the riskiness of the two models above. Specifically, in developing countries (e.g., Vietnam), the demand for exporting goods and trading between sellers and buyers have not yet applied the benefits of current technology to improve traditional shipping models. Two typical examples in the last five years that have demonstrated the risks of both sellers and buyers when applying CoD and LoC models are the problem of keeping the money of the seller of GNN Expresses (2017) as well as risks in losing control of 4 containers of cashew nuts when exporting from Vietnam to Italy (2021). A series of studies have proposed solutions based on distributed storage, blockchain, and smart contracts to solve the above problems. However, the role of the shipper has not been considered in some approaches or is not suitable for deployment in a developed country (i.e., Vietnam). In this paper, we propose a combination model between the traditional CoD model and blockchain technology, smart contracts, and NFT to solve the above problems. Specifically, our contribution includes four aspects: a) proposing a shipping model based on blockchain technology and smart contracts; b) proposing a model for storing package information based on Ethereum’s NFT technology (i.e. ERC721); c) implementing the proposed model by designing smart contracts that support the creation and transfer of NFTs between sellers and buyers; d) deploy smart contracts on four EVM-enabled platforms including BNB Smart chain, Fantom, Celo, and Polygon to find a suitable platform for the proposed model.
Modern economy faces one of its’ greatest challenges of all times and disruptive innovations are available to corporations as solutions to major business drawbacks (e.g., traceability, communication, data exchange, information modelling etc.). The Maritime Industry combines multiple supply chain stakeholders and operations, globally, generating critical data and exchanging important documents. Mostly, these are paper-based and proprietary. For this industry, digitally exchanged data, must be unambiguous, semantically aligned between trading partners and shared with resilience in real-time using a common operational language. This could be achieved through the prominent from Bitcoin Cryptocurrency Blockchain Technology as a digital verification mechanism complying with global identification, technical and data exchange standards. Acknowledging the difficulties faced in the Maritime Business Operations’ Management, this paper examines the strategic impact of Standards and Blockchain Technology in the industry’s processes.
In recent years, the application and development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has increased significantly. In general, the IoT requires many technologies. Usually, a large amount of IoT sensor information is collected through IoT devices, and devices are connected to each other through IoT communication technology. The Internet exchanges and transmits information, issues instructions and commands to the device, and then conducts prediction and decision making by artificial intelligence (AI) after big data analysis, which is called theAI of Things(AIoT) system.
rmation, and the adoption of certain business models in the context of the maritime trade supply chain industry. Most specifically, it enquires the impact that the former might have on the latter. The question’s relevance is twofold. On the one hand, the pace of both technological and business innovation has accelerated during the last 15 years, especially for certain industries. On the other hand, while there has been some degree of innovation in maritime trade supply chains, the industry lags behind other economic sectors; still working with technologies, business models and processes that predate the contemporary globalization era. Thus, understanding how and why the adoption of certain technologies might generate new ways of creating, delivering and capturing value in maritime trade supply chains, becomes a significant undertaking from both a theoretical and practical perspective. To address this enquiry, we have conducted four separate studies in this dissertation. In Chapter 2, we conduct a theoretical synthesis in order to provide a general theoretical background for the research conducted in the subsequent chapters. Chapter 3 is mainly concerned with physical flows. We investigate what impact does the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies by seaports might have on their business models. To define these, we refer to the classification of seaports across a generational ladder: from 1st generation to 5th generation ports; referring as well to the novel construct of Port 4.0, and the commonly used “smart port” term. In Chapter 4 we turn to information flows. Most specifically, we explore the influence that distributed ledger technology (DLT) —most commonly known as blockchain— might have on the adoption of sustainable business models in the shipping industry. Chapter 5 focus on financial flows. It presents a design science study on a problem known as the trade finance gap; understood as the difference between the total supply of and demand for trade finance in international trade on a global level. The main question addressed is how to design a new business model that would address the causes behind the said trade finance gap. To conclude, this dissertation explores how digital transformation affects or impacts business models in maritime trade supply chains. It does so, by conducting studies on different contexts, each of them primarily focused on either physical, information or financial flows. From a theoretical perspective, the dissertation provides insights on the interplay between the three flows in maritime trade; with a special focus on how digital transformation, by affecting this interplay, drives or contributes to the adoption of new business models. Most specifically, Industry 4.0 technologies like IoT or DLT improve the way information flows interact with physical and financial flows. From a practical/managerial perspective, the research provides useful insights for business executives and policy makers, on how digital transformation should be faced at the strategic, tactical and operational level. By understanding how new technologies affect the ways in which value is created, delivered and captured, decision makers can design better business models, increasing competitiveness; or implement more adequate policies and strategies. Most importantly, the dissertation aims to serve as a source of ideas for those entrepreneurs who, through their startups, will design and develop innovative use cases and business models for the maritime industry. Aquesta investigació doctoral explora la interrelació entre els fenòmens contemporanis coneguts com a transformació digital i l’adopció de certs models de negoci en el context de la indústria de la cadena de subministrament del comerç marítim. Més concretament, indaga sobre l’impacte que els primers poguessin tenir sobre la segona. La rellevància de la pregunta és doble. D’una banda, el ritme de la innovació tant tecnològica com empresarial s’ha accelerat durant els darrers 15 anys, especialment per a determinades indústries. D’altra banda, si bé hi ha hagut cert grau d’innovació a les cadenes de subministrament del comerç marítim, la indústria va darrera d’altres sectors econòmics; segueix treballant amb tecnologies, models de negocis i processos anteriors a l’era de la globalització contemporània. Per tant, comprendre com i per què l’adopció de certes tecnologies pot generar noves maneres de crear, distribuir i capturar valor a les cadenes de subministrament del comerç marítim es converteix en una tasca important tant des d’una perspectiva teòrica com pràctica. Per indagar-hi, hem realitzat quatre estudis en aquesta dissertació. Al Capítol 2, duem a terme una síntesi teòrica per tal de proporcionar un marc teòric general per a la recerca realitzada en els capítols següents. El capítol 3 s’ocupa principalment dels fluxos físics. Investiguem quin impacte podria tenir l’adopció de tecnologies Indústria 4.0 per part dels ports marítims als seus models de negoci. Al Capítol 4 passem als fluxos d’informació. Més específicament, explorem la influència que la tecnologia de distributed ledger (DLT), més comunament coneguda com a blockchain, podria tenir en l’adopció de models de negoci sostenibles a la indústria del transport marítim. El capítol 5 se centra en els fluxos financers. Presenta un estudi de disseny sobre un problema conegut com la bretxa de finançament del comerç (trade finance gap); entès com la diferència entre l’oferta i la demanda total de finançament al comerç internacional a nivell global. Per concloure, aquesta dissertació explora com la transformació digital afecta o impacta els models de negoci a les cadenes de subministrament del comerç marítim. Ho fa mitjançant la realització d’estudis sobre diferents contextos, cadascun centrat principalment en els fluxos físics, d’informació o financers. Des d’una perspectiva teòrica, la dissertació proporciona informació sobre la interacció entre els tres fluxos al comerç marítim; amb un enfocament especial com la transformació digital, en afectar aquesta interacció, impulsa o contribueix a l’adopció de nous models de negoci. Més específicament, les tecnologies d'industria 4.0 com IoT o DLT milloren la manera com els fluxos d’informació interactuen amb els fluxos físics i financers. Des d’una perspectiva pràctica/gerencial, la recerca proporciona informació útil per als executius de negocis i els dissenyadors de polítiques sobre com cal enfrontar la transformació digital a nivell estratègic, tàctic i operatiu. En comprendre com les noves tecnologies afecten les formes en què es crea, distribueix i captura el valor, els prenedors de decisions poden dissenyar millors models de negoci, augmentant la competitivitat; o implementar polítiques i estratègies més adequades. El que és més important, la dissertació té com a objectiu servir com a font d’idees per als emprenedors que, a través de les startups, dissenyaran i desenvoluparan casos d’ús innovadors i models de negoci per a la indústria marítima. Esta investigación doctoral explora la interrelación entre los fenómenos contemporáneos conocidos como transformación digital y la adopción de ciertos modelos de negocio en el contexto de la industria de la cadena de suministro del comercio marítimo. Más concretamente, indaga sobre el impacto que los primeros pudieran tener sobre la segunda. La relevancia de la pregunta es doble. Por un lado, el ritmo de la innovación tanto tecnológica como empresarial se ha acelerado durante los últimos 15 años, especialmente para determinadas industrias. Por otro lado, si bien ha habido cierto grado de innovación en las cadenas de suministro del comercio marítimo, la industria va a la zaga de otros sectores económicos; sigue trabajando con tecnologías, modelos de negocios y procesos que son anteriores a la era de la globalización contemporánea. Por lo tanto, comprender cómo y por qué la adopción de ciertas tecnologías puede generar nuevas formas de crear, distribuir y capturar valor en las cadenas de suministro del comercio marítimo se convierte en una tarea importante tanto desde una perspectiva teórica como práctica. Para indagar sobre ello, hemos realizado cuatro estudios en esta disertación. En el Capítulo 2, llevamos a cabo una síntesis teórica con el fin de proporcionar un marco teórico general para la investigación realizada en los capítulos siguientes. Para ello, comenzamos desarrollando una base bibliográfica, fundamentada en 3 disciplinas: Estudios Marítimos, Ciencias de la Gestión e Investigación de Sistemas de Información. El enfoque central se basa entonces en la construcción de los tres flujos presentes en las cadenas de suministro del comercio marítimo: flujos físicos, de información y financieros. Para cada uno de los flujos nos hacemos tres preguntas básicas: ¿qué? (describiendo el contenido del flujo), ¿cómo? (describiendo los mecanismos), y ¿por qué? (comprender qué impulsa el flujo en cuestión). Para los flujos físicos, nos referimos a su contenido con el término global de “carga”, el mecanismo como multimodalidad y la causa impulsora como producción o consumo. Para los flujos de información, el contenido son datos o información (en sentido estricto), el mecanismo es en papel o electrónico, y la causa impulsora es su rol como recurso para la toma de decisiones. Los flujos financieros se refieren al dinero, que fluye ya sea por medio de pagos o créditos, bajo un modelo de flujo circular como lógica impulsora. Luego, el capítulo ofrece una explicación básica de cómo se integran los tres flujos: los flujos físicos y financieros se basan en intercambios mutuos entre actores a lo largo de la cadena de suministro (que se mueven en direcciones opuestas), mientras que los flujos de información se mueven en ambas direcciones, apoyando a los dos primeros. Finalmente, el capítulo tiene como objetivo contribuir a la comprensión del concepto de
Bernard Aritua, Hei Chiu, Cheng Lü, Sheila Farrell · 5 authors
Draws important lessons from the development of China’s ports, each accompanied by reflections on its relevance for developing countries. A holistic approach to macroeconomic and regional development cautions that port development should not stop at the port gate but rather seek to align logistics, trade, and transport policies with broader economic development strategies while considering how to balance decentralization, central coordination, and local initiative. Port-hinterland connectivity to port cities necessitates an understanding that long-term competitiveness depends on strong networks and corridors linking ports with hinterlands which requires deploying land-use strategies to maximize the economic benefits of ports. Human resources and innovation entails investing in human capital and innovation as drivers of productivity and efficiency. And finally, port governance and finance entail defining the role of government in combining financial, economic, social, and environmental objectives and broadening access to the finance and public support needed to develop a competitive port ecosystem, all while testing the waters before scaling up.
The paper presents blockchain-based maritime supply chain system (BMSCS) and Blockshipping decentralized platform for containers' smart booking and releasing as one of BMSCS applications. The conceptual framework of BMSCS is discussed along with its actual benefits, frailties, and key players. In addition, Blockshipping global shared container platform (GSCP) is described at rather high level of abstraction; including its potentials to increase efficiency, reduce costs and environmental impacts through enhancing intelligent turnover of containers in the global trade. In addition, the results of a case study on adopting blockchain in emerging maritime economy in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa are presented and discussed. Some directions for further research in the field are given as well.
The purpose of the paper is to present a conceptual framework of blockchain (BC) deployment in shipping and port management, which encompasses distributed relational database (DB) and crypto-currency payment mechanism as main constructs. The core of the model is TradeLens platform. The document workflow management, financial processes and device connectivity are key scenarios in the proposed framework. The stakeholders play the role of traditional intermediaries in goods, accompanied data, and documents flows, including overall supervision of the processes between end-nodes, that is shippers (consignees) and customers (consumers). The paper identifies some strengthens and frailty of blockchain-based maritime supply chain system and proposes further investigation in this domain, towards better understanding prospective development of blockchain across maritime cluster.
Abstract Decision-making is a prolific research area in the internet era, which has propelled globalization and the virtual elimination of many country border barriers. However, effective decision-making in the shipping industry is a time consuming and often complicated process. Digital evolution has provided new innovative organizational operation methods. Blockchain technology—a basic component of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—is one such innovation that promises to alter the process of decision-making. However, only a few academic studies have explored the decision-making aspect of blockchain technology. Moreover, there is a dearth of comprehensive research on how blockchain affects decisions in the shipping industry. This study explored how this novice technology can address issues, such as vast documentation and information asymmetry in the shipping industry. Specifically, grounded theory was used to qualitatively investigate extant practices and examine the potential impact of blockchain technology on decision-making in the shipping industry and the potential of using blockchain technology to emancipate decision-making. The study results indicate that the instant and reliable data-sharing capability of blockchain can significantly impact the shipping industry, while transforming its decision-making processes.