Paper Title
AUTONOMOUS SHIP ADOPTION: A STUDY OF CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS

Abstract
Abstract - Autonomous ships are promising technologies to enhance ocean sustainability (i.e. reduced air and water pollution, and illegal waste discharge), safety, maritime shipping automatization, and efficiency. Hence, examining the critical success factors (CSFs) of autonomous ship adoption is crucial for its wide applications. Nevertheless, no studies have holistically investigated the enablers of autonomous ship adoption, anchoring on strategic management principles. Hence, this research addresses the research gap by proposing a theory-driven model which identifies and ranks the CSFs. Four theories, namely, diffusion of innovation, resource-based view, stakeholder theory, contingency theory are synthesized to identify the four main CSFs and seventeen sub-factors. Interviews are conducted and a survey questionnaire is administered to 126 managers working in maritime shipping companies. The fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is applied to evaluate the relative importance of CSFs. It is found that the main CSFs are: (1) technology readiness, (2) environment fit, (3) organizational resources, (4) stakeholder readiness. Policy recommendations on promoting technology advancement in autonomous ships, formulating supportive legal framework and insurance regime, creating innovation-supportive environment, implementing cost subsidization and providing workforce planning, training and allocation are provided to support autonomous ship adoption. Keywords - Autonomous Ship, Maritime Industry, Critical Success Factors, Automation Adoption