Smart challenges and opportunities in maritime fields on effects of 4th IR and COVID 19 pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic affected world trade, and the economy in addition to public health i.e. adding additional challenges and perhaps opportunities for the maritime industry. Novel technologies and high levels of automation in maritime transport imposed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are expected to contribute significantly to the changing of maritime operations sooner than expected. Ports are already facing enormous challenges to adapt to many recent trends, including mega-ships, sustainability, and smart concepts such as cyber security. This paper focuses on a key aspect, i.e. how the maritime industry should adapt to accommodate and interface with novel technologies e.g. autonomous ships, i.e. accelerated after the pandemic, sooner than later to survive. By an inductive and deductive approach, the research demonstrates the challenges facing ports in preparing for different Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) challenges shortly. Suze Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) ports are taken as a case study, which should cope with these 4th IR developments and overcome any future pandemic effects. For rationality, analyses are done for SCzone, as an example of how to remain competitive in international transport. Findings of the research found that developing countries should be eager to invest in capacity building and legislative adaptation before investing in infrastructure to cope with the latest technologies. Technical cooperation programs under international bodies e.g. IMO, inter alia, can play an important role in these required adaptation developments. Keywords: Pandemic, Autonomous Ships - Ports, 4IR, Challenges, Opportunities