Analysis of Blockchain's Impacts on and Applicability to the Maritime Industry

This report addresses several questions:

• Does blockchain meet the needs and requirements of logistics operations?
• Is the information technology (IT) infrastructure in the logistics environment ready for this new technology?
• What lessons have been learned from prior implementations that might make blockchain more effective for the marine shipping environment?

In this report:

• Chapter 2 provides a summary of an extensive literature review that offers an understanding of what blockchain is, what its limitations and advantages are, and how it is being used.
• Chapter 3 provides the findings from a survey of the Port of Houston user community. The survey probed their understanding of blockchain technology and their level of implementation of the technology.
• Chapter 4 provides a case study of the implementation of blockchain in the maritime/port environment. The case study focuses on the project undertaken by the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, to move its export functions to blockchain.
• Chapter 5 summarizes interviews and investigation into TradeLens, a blockchain system developed by Maersk and IBM to facilitate container logistics across all the various users involved in the supply chain.
• Chapter 6 summarizes key findings and recommendations for further research.