A NEW APPROACH TO THE DIGITAL MARITIME ECONOMY

Abstract In the maritime industry today we observe various attempts to adopt new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) at all aspects of maritime businesses such as shipping operations, commercial transactions, safety and security at sea, maritime environmental protection. Additionally great efforts are made in order integrate applications and provide value-added services using e-business practices. This strategic choice generates a Digital Maritime Economy which is related to non-traditional approaches through innovative software application development and use by shipping companies in a dynamic business ecosystem. The approach imposes their transformation in species of a Digital Business Ecosystem (DBE) by adopting a multi-disciplinary methods based on biology and e-business models. The paper starts with a discussion of the literature about ecosystems, considering the relevant theoretical background in creating the digital counterpart of a biological ecosystem. Next the potential DBE concept applied in shipping sector is considered. Finally, implementation of DBE concept in shipping through a conceptual model of a business platform supporting e-services is presented. Keywords: digital maritime economy, digital business ecosystem, e-services, business platform.

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