This interdisciplinary project, conducted using doctrinal and empirical methodologies, investigates the perennial question of why commercial shipping has been unable to digitalise. It explores how trust issues have prevented commercial shipping from digitalising, what is the role of trust in digitalisation and whether the adoption of trust-disrupting technology and digital trust legislation can help commercial shipping overcome this hurdle. New technologies, including 3D printing, 5G, AI, blockchain, cloud computing, DLT, IoT, oracles, robotics and smart contracts, will feature in the discussion. The thesis combines insights from the disciplines of law, computer science, social science and business studies to resolve the trust problem in a way that seeks to best manage the risks of digitalisation.

Presentations

• “Why is trust relevant for shipping to digitalise?”, CML Lunch Seminar, 15 March 2023
• “Electronic bills of lading”, NUS CMS, MAritime Digital Efficiency (MADE) 1st Workshop, 24 November 2022
• “An empirical study of digital shipping stakeholders’ views on digitalisation”, CML Lunch Seminar, 9 November 2022
• “Maritime technology operators”, CML Lunch Seminar, 26 January 2022
• “Data risks, data protection and cybersecurity”, CML Lunch Seminar, 13 October 2021
• “The relevance of trust in commercial shipping”, CML Lunch Seminar, 27 January 2021