Value migration: digitalization of shipping as a mechanism of industry dethronement

Article


Poulis, K., Galanakis, G., Triantafillou, G. and Poulis, E. 2020. Value migration: digitalization of shipping as a mechanism of industry dethronement. Journal of Shipping and Trade. 5 (1), pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-020-00064-0
TypeArticle
TitleValue migration: digitalization of shipping as a mechanism of industry dethronement
AuthorsPoulis, K., Galanakis, G., Triantafillou, G. and Poulis, E.
Abstract

In this conceptual paper, we review latest developments related to unmanned vessels and sketch potential scenarios that implicate with the existing maritime industry structure. On the one hand, we isolate a range of challenges that make the imminent realization of unmanned vessels seem like a rather utopian pursuit. On the other hand, we explain the reasons that may catalyse their emergence. Inspired by these opposing tensions, we highlight that the digital transformation of the shipping industry has the potential to enhance value within the industry’s ecosystem. However, we also contend that unmanned vessels -if realized- pose a very particular threat to the identity of the shipping industry as we know it. In particular, we build upon the concept of value migration and we highlight the drastic existential changes that may likely stem from a shift to non-seafarer-centric shipping. We conclude with questions that matter for industry dethronement purposes i.e., the possibility that existing industry structures may be substantially reconfigured following a removal of the seafarer as the nucleus of value creation in shipping.

KeywordsReview; Unmanned vessels; Crew; Value migration; Digitalization; Industry dethronement; Autonomous operations
PublisherSpringer Open
JournalJournal of Shipping and Trade
ISSN2364-4575
Electronic2364-4575
Publication dates
Online22 May 2020
Print31 Dec 2020
Publication process dates
Deposited08 Jun 2020
Submitted06 Dec 2019
Accepted06 May 2020
Output statusPublished
Publisher's version
License
Copyright Statement

© The Author(s). 2020 Open Access
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Web address (URL)https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41072-020-00064-0
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1186/s41072-020-00064-0
LanguageEnglish
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