SECURE BLOCKCHAINS FOR THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY

2024-12-12 10:44:44

This past semester at Aalborg University, our team dove into one of the trickiest challenges in global shipping: how to make data more transparent, reliable, and secure. Our project, “Developing a Secure Blockchain System,” explored how blockchain technology could tackle inefficiencies, fraud, and disputes that plague the cargo industry.

Shipping logistics often rely on scattered paperwork and manual processes, which can slow down operations and create trust issues between shippers, carriers, and customs authorities. Our goal was to design a system that makes it easier for all stakeholders to access the right information at the right time, while keeping data safe from tampering.

We built a blockchain-based solution that records every step of a shipment on an immutable ledger. Authorized users can access this data in real time, and thanks to the decentralized, peer-to-peer (P2P) network, it’s almost impossible for anyone to manipulate the records without being noticed. Essentially, if a bad actor tries to alter the data, they’d need to control the majority of the network.

Components of the system

• Blockchain Nodes:
  • The backbone of the network, maintaining security and decentralization.

• Web Client & HTTP APIs:
  • Easy interfaces for users to interact with the blockchain and manage transactions.

• Encrypted Transactions:

  • All transactions and blocks are encrypted, keeping sensitive shipping data safe.

• P2P Networking:

  • Gossip protocols and sync mechanisms ensure smooth, reliable communication across the network.

High level architecture

Demonstration

Source code

The source code is available at github.com https://github.com/bummie/marineblockchain