Blockchain adoptions in the maritime industry: a conceptual framework

Abstract

Blockchain technology has become one of the emerging technologies set to disrupt the maritime industry. Maritime companies are increasingly exploring to adopt blockchain to stay ahead of competition. However, studies on blockchain applications in the maritime sector have been scarce and most of them are confined to a specific sector like the maritime shipping sector. Therefore, this study is motivated to provide a thorough analysis of blockchain applications from the perspectives of different sectors in the industry. It also aims to develop a novel conceptual framework to provide a holistic view of blockchain adoption in the industry and guide future research. The implication analysis of blockchain adoption indicates that for industry organisations, a good understanding of blockchain and their own specific problems and requirements is key before adopting the technology. For government agencies, technical code for blockchain can be utilised to govern blockchain innovation with the same effects as legal code. Lastly, recommendations are provided to various maritime stakeholders to seize the emerging opportunities provided by blockchain and mitigate relevant risks.