Blockchain Ready Port Supply Chain Using Distributed Ledger

Authors

  • David King Boison Ghana Technology University College, Accra, Ghana
  • Ahmed Antwi-Boampong Centre for Communications, Media and Information Technologies, Department of Electronic Systems, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.13052/nbjict1902-097X.2020.001

Keywords:

Blockchain, trust, port and maritime systems, technology adoption, global port industry

Abstract

Blockchain technology, as a bedrock for distributed ledgers, offers a platform for innovation for a new decentralized and transparent transaction machinery in industries and businesses, and the port is not an exception. The inbuilt features of this technology enrich trust through transparency and traceability within any transaction of data, goods, services, and financial resources. Notwithstanding initial doubts about this technology, lately government and large corporations have offered to adopt and enhance this technology in various fields of applications, from social and legal industries, and finance to design, maritime and port networks. In this paper, the authors review the current status of the Blockchain technology and some of its applications. The potential benefit of such a technology in port and maritime supply chain is then discussed, and a vision for the future Blockchain ready port and maritime supply chain are proposed. The importation of containerized vehicles is used as an example to demonstrate how such technology can be deployed in a global port industry. Finally, the requirements and challenges to adopt this technology in the future in relation to, port and maritime systems are discussed.

Author Biographies

David King Boison, Ghana Technology University College, Accra, Ghana

David King Boison is a consultant, lecturer at Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), adjunct lecturer at Methodist University College - Accra Ghana and former IT Manager of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). As a process improvement and automation consultant, he has for the past six years, been responsible for providing leadership in process improvement and automation at Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (from 2013 – January 2017). He has been involved in consultancy works in the areas of business process remodeling, strategic planning, critical and analytical approach to solving problems, digitization of business process, business simulation and IT projects implementation. He holds a BBA in Accounting with First Class Honors, Msc in Supply Management with Distinction (Best Student) and Msc in Management Information System with Distinction. He holds a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management option with CASS Europe France Business School. He was the concept developer and implementer for the Port Automation System (now the Paperless Port System) at Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (June 2012 – January 2017) and also a Prince2 Project Practitioner.

Ahmed Antwi-Boampong, Centre for Communications, Media and Information Technologies, Department of Electronic Systems, Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark

Ahmed Antwi-Boampong is a Ph.D. fellow at the Aalborg University, Copenhagen Campus in Denmark since spring 2016. He attended the University for development studies, Ghana where he received his B.Sc. Agriculture technology in 2002. Ahmed went to pursue an MBA in project management and a Bachelor of Law degree from The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration in 2010 and 2016 respectively. His Ph.D. work centers on harnessing the utilities of Information Communication Technologies (I.C.T) and how it’s utility can be applied to social use cases in developing countries.

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Published

2020-01-29

How to Cite

Boison, D. K., & Antwi-Boampong, A. (2020). Blockchain Ready Port Supply Chain Using Distributed Ledger. Nordic and Baltic Journal of Information & Communications Technologies, 2019, 1–32. https://doi.org/10.13052/nbjict1902-097X.2020.001

Issue

2019: Vol2019

Section

Articles