Shipping 4.0: general framework for a new cybershipping era

The fourth industrial revolution, also referred to as Industry 4.0, is a disruptive transformation process aimed which, by means of digital technologies, is substantially innovating the value creation processes in all industry contexts. With such premise, industry 4.0 is in particular expected to have a substantial impact on the maritime transport and shipping sectors, where smart ships and autonomous vessels are expected to be the building blocks of a new interconnected maritime ecosystem. The application of Industry 4.0 principles to the shipping domain (Shipping 4.0) has thus raised a scientific debate about the efficiency, sustainability, and safety of maritime transport. Recent researches, however, mostly focus on technological aspects, neglecting the issues related to the current dynamics of value creation in the shipping industry. This paper addresses such topic by discussing the shortfalls of the current industrial practice and the existing gap with the next generation concept