Abstract
Maritime transport plays a significant role in global trade and the global economy. At the same time, pollution from ships is a major contributor to adverse environmental and social impacts. Ocean-going ships consume large amounts of fossil fuels daily and hence cause significant environmental pollution. Emissions are directly proportional to fuel burned and considering the cost of fuel, improvements in the fuel-efficient operation of ships could bring positive outcomes by reducing operational costs, exhaust gas emissions, and social impacts. Hence, adoption of state-of-the-art technologies for fuel-efficient operation of ships plays a major role in achieving sustainability in the maritime transport sector. Most existing sustainability studies focus on alternative energy systems, state-of-the-art technologies, strategic planning, improved operational practices, the impact of regulations and policies on sustainability, and the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainability. Ship-owners and port operators are typically regarded as conservative and therefore slow to take up innovative practices. Therefore, it is important to understand the culture, attitudes, and perceptions of decision-makers in the maritime transport sector to understand their motivation for adopting state-of-the-art technologies for fuel-efficient operation of ships. The level of implementation of various sustainability transition measures remains low due to various challenges and barriers. While previous studies focused on the role of social exchange in the business performance of organisations as well as the job performance of individuals, little research has been conducted on the role of social exchange in motivating stakeholders to adopt innovative technologies in shipping. Focusing on the maritime transport sector in Singapore, this thesis investigates the role of social exchange on motivating the voluntary adoption (as opposed to adoption required by regulations) of state-of-the-art technologies for the fuel-efficient operation of ships in the maritime transport sector.The goal of the research is to contribute to the maritime sustainability literature and inform practice on the role of social exchange on the voluntary adoption of technologies. This study adopts social exchange theory (SET) as its theoretical foundation. A qualitative, inductive approach was adopted using social constructivism of technology as a research paradigm. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews of twelve participants who are senior decision-makers in the Singapore maritime transport sector. A systematic thematic analysis helped to identify themes and patterns of meaning which led to the findings of this research. The research revealed the existence of important social exchange relationships among maritime community members. The distinct maritime community provides a platform for exchange transactions among closely connected maritime community members as actors of exchange. The resources exchanged include social capital, information capital, and confidence capital.
The research revealed the important influence of social exchange, especially exchange of confidence capital, on the voluntary adoption of state-of-the-art technologies for the fuel-efficient operation of ships. The research provided a number of theoretical and practical contributions, especially the reconceptualization of confidence capital as a theoretical approach to understanding technology transfer within the shipping community. On the practical side, the research informs various stakeholders on the influence of social exchange on maritime decision-making and voluntary behaviours so that stakeholders can strategize plans and actions for promoting and encouraging the adoption of innovative technologies for sustainable shipping, and therefore improved sustainability in the maritime transport sector.
| Date of Award | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Michael de Percy (Supervisor) & Tracey DICKSON (Supervisor) |
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