Digital Horizon: Assessing Current Status of Digitalization in Maritime Industry

Abstract

This study addresses the critical role of maritime transport, which accounts for a significant part of world trade, but faces environmental challenges due to its dependence on the combustion of conventional fuels. The study focuses on the fast-growing area of digitalization in the maritime industry as a solution and uses a bibliometric analysis to assess trends, country participation, patents, and influential journals. China leads in both publications and patents, with Ocean Engineering emerging as one of the most important journals. The study identifies modern technologies such as IoT, Blockchain, AI and Neural Networks as crucial to overcoming the challenges facing the industry. However, it also points to obstacles, including the need for advanced text analytics tools and interdisciplinary research. The integration of previous research efforts highlights gaps and the dynamic nature of the field. Implications for future research emphasize international collaboration, understanding the patent landscape and consideration of ethical and regulatory factors. The discussion highlights the transformative potential of AI, IoT, Big Data Analytics, and Blockchain in maritime digitalization and emphasizes the importance of balancing technological advances with safety and sustainability. In summary, the study provides valuable insights into the progress of maritime digitalization. It provides a basis for future research and highlights the potential for efficiency, safety and sustainability improvements that require a cautious and balanced approach.