The key challenges of blockchain implementation in maritime sector: summary from literature and previous research findings

The concept of transforming maritime industry into a digital platform with real-time communication has rapidly emerged within industry discussions. A big part of the topic was tied around blockchain technology that due to its decentralization feature can simplify the complexity of the supply chain network and interconnect its actors. Nevertheless, only a few studies have investigated the feasibility in detail, yet not covered limitations other than those generally discussed. The purpose of the study is to identify and summarize the challenges of blockchain implementation in the maritime industry and within maritime ports. Based on the literature and previous research findings, 18 challenges to the blockchain implementation were identified and categorized into four dimensions: human factor, operational, organizational, and technological. The findings show that different priorities among ports, low level of digitalization, scalability of blockchain systems, and unwillingness to change business routine are important challenges.