Blockchain as an Emerging and Disruptive Technology for Container Shipping Logistics: Bridging the Gap Between Transformative Potential and Industry Adoption

Abstract

Blockchain has emerged as one of the most promising technologies for transforming container shipping logistics because of its potential to enhance transparency, traceability, automation, interoperability, and trusted information sharing across maritime supply chains. Despite being widely recognised as both an emerging and disruptive technology, its adoption and industry-wide impact have remained considerably slower than anticipated. This study systematically reviews the literature to examine why blockchain is considered an emerging and disruptive technology, identify the factors responsible for the gap between its transformative potential and actual implementation, and explore future directions for enabling wider adoption. A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) Statement, with evidence synthesised from 86 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2026 using thematic analysis. The review reveals that blockchain's limited disruptive impact is primarily constrained by governance challenges, trust deficits, organisational resistance, regulatory and legal constraints, confidentiality concerns, and interoperability limitations rather than technological shortcomings. The findings further demonstrate that governance neutrality, consortium-based collaboration, privacy-preserving technologies, interoperability standards, regulatory alignment, organisational readiness, and ecosystem-wide collaboration are essential for realising blockchain's disruptive potential. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge and offers a research agenda to support the broader adoption and sustainable digital transformation of container shipping logistics.