The global maritime industry, a critical pillar of international trade, continues to face persistent challenges in ensuring the integrity, security, and transparency of containerized cargo data, particularly during ocean transport. Traditional container tracking systems at sea often lack the reliability and resilience required to prevent data tampering, cyber threats, and operational inefficiencies. As supply chains become more complex and interconnected, the demand for robust, end-to-end data security solutions becomes more pressing. A promising technological advancement in this area is the convergence of smart containers, equipped with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors for real-time condition monitoring, and blockchain technology (BCT) for secure data validation. These IoT devices facilitate continuous tracking of critical parameters such as location, temperature, humidity, tilt, and the like. However, the data they generate remains vulnerable to cyberattacks, signal disruptions, and unauthorized alterations. Blockchain’s decentralized and tamper-evident architecture addresses these vulnerabilities by enabling secure data immutability, transparent audit trails, and enhanced stakeholder trust. Despite its potential, the practical integration of blockchain with smart container systems in maritime logistics remains largely underexplored. To bridge this gap, this paper proposes a blockchain-enabled smart container monitoring system that combines container real-time data with secure physical tracking. Furthermore, to ensure scalability and efficient in data storage, hybrid on/off-chain architecture is introduced, balancing blockchain integrity with performance and resource optimization.
Džankić et al. (2026) studied this question.