区块链技术在航运业的应用综述

The shipping industry is the backbone of international trade and globalization. Shipping and ports are estimated to handle over 80% of global merchandise trade by volume. Compared with other modes of transportation, the main advantages of shipping are its transportation capacity, its direct access to global transportation networks, and its low freight rates. Shipping is a traditional and conservative industry that has experienced slow digitalization. Currently, numerous business scenarios through which the efficiency and effectiveness of shipping can be improved have been considered. These include the use of the Internet of Things, big data technology, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology. This study focuses on the application of blockchain technology in the shipping industry. As a typical distributed transaction ledger, the main characteristics of blockchain include decentralization, openness and transparency, permanent storage, the ability to prevent tampering, and traceability. Blockchain can solve the problems of information non-interoperability, poor traceability of commodity information, large numbers of paper-based transactional documents, and the high risk of tampering, loss, and forgery of relevant documents, all of which are common in the shipping industry. This study first summarizes existing blockchain-based platforms and current projects in shipping activities. It then reviews relevant studies with respect to specific applications, their status and prospects, and their effects on the shipping industry. Finally, relevant research directions are suggested.