Autonomous ships: A study of critical success factors

Autonomous ships are promising technologies to enhance ocean sustainability (i.e., reduced air and water pollution, and illegal waste discharge), safety, maritime shipping automatization, and efficiency. Hence, examining the critical success factors (CSFs) of autonomous ship adoption is important. Nonetheless, no studies have holistically investigated the enablers of autonomous ship adoption, anchoring on strategic management principles. Hence, our paper addresses this research gap by proposing a theory-driven model which identifies and ranks the CSFs. Four theories, namely, diffusion of innovation, resource-based view, stakeholder theory, and contingency theory are synthesized to identify the four main CSFs and 17 sub-factors. Interviews were conducted and a survey questionnaire was administered to 126 managers working in shipping companies. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process was applied to evaluate the relative importance of CSFs. It is found that the main CSFs are: (1) technological readiness, (2) environmental fit, (3) organizational resources, and (4) stakeholder readiness. Policy recommendations on promoting technological advancement in autonomous ships; formulating supportive legal frameworks and insurance regimes; creating an innovation-supportive environment; enabling cost subsidization; and providing workforce planning, training and allocation are provided to support autonomous ship adoption.