The diploma thesis gives an overview of the role of maritime transportation in the international trade. It deals with the history, important documents used in the shipping operations, needed contracts and maritime organizations. Concerning the modern trends in maritime transportation, the containerization is pointed out as well as the actual image of shipping market which was affected by the global financial crisis. The thesis also mentions current trends in shipping industry, its challenges and warnings. A closer look is devoted to the Asian region and especially to China. To conclude, part of the paper focuses on the view to the future and an effort to estimate the development of the shipping industry in the next decade.

Green Shipping Practices (GSPs) are a new and increasing trend in the shipping industry. This appears to be a response of the shipping industry to the increasing demand for sustainability in this industry sector. While these practices are gradually becoming acceptable, it is unclear what motivates shipping firms to engage in these practices. This research explored four theoretical perspectives to identify what theory adequately explains the adoption of GSPs and the impact on organisational performance. Through robust literature review, data collection and analysis the conceptualization and definition of GSPs (Lai et al, 2011) is validated. This research through industry case study fills the existing void in literature by identifying what factors influence the adoption of GSPs and how this affects organizational performance. This research adopted a case study approach to exploring the subject area. This is because the research area is still very new and there is little data and literature in this area. The findings suggest that GSPs adoption is largely driven by coercive influences. The research identified factors that influence GSPs adoption classifying them as drivers and enhancers. The research also identified the impact of GSPs on organisational performance classifying the impact as perceived benefits and constraints. The theoretical contribution of this research amongst others include the identification of Institutional theory as plausible explanation for GSPs adoption. Provides adequate explanation to GSPs adoption. Furthermore, this theory is extended to include the influence of moral conviction/values. The research also makes methodological contribution having made use of a qualitative approach in contrast to the prevailing quantitative approach used in similar studies.

This master thesis deals with the very current topic of ballast water management, a very specific field in the maritime shipping industry. The aim of the thesis is to introduce the subject clearly and to sum up the main issues which restrain a smooth implementation of new regulations that emerged from a recently adopted international treaty. This treaty, the so-called Ballast Water Management Convention, will possibly have immediate impact on the seafreight market rates and thus on the entire international trade. So purpose of this thesis is to estimate what the result might be like.

Nowadays, firms are increasingly recognizing the true value of customer satisfaction. In the major market, Mass Customization has emerged trend as firms started to recognize the value of their existing services. The main goal for the company of Mass Customization is to make a balance between matching the customized demands of major customers and acquiring as much benefits. For the sake of survival and growth, the SMEs need to optimize strategy, but it is really difficult to challenge the position of leading firms. Meanwhile, there are potential customers who are large amounts but small size for each individual, most of them have the strong willing to request the customized service because they have specific requirements, which the existing mass customization could not fulfill their needs. Therefore, start or enhance the customized service could be considered as a great way to seize the niche market customers. Purpose of this article is to find out the close contact between customized marketing and customer satisfaction. Depth analysis of a small shipping company is provided in this study. By studying the specific measures of customized marketing in the successful small shipping company, we attempt to find the answer to the following research question: How does customized marketing act on the improvement of customer satisfaction for SMEs? In methodology part we describe our research method: single case but we use mixed method research. Both interview and survey were practiced for data collection. The research results show that customized marketing has the significant positive impact on customer satisfaction, and the different services aspects of customized marketing are varying degrees of effect to customer satisfaction. As a result of studying, some customized marketing measures are indicated which SMEs could implement to effectively improve customer satisfaction.

The term Big Data has been gaining importance both at the academic and at the business level. Information technology plays a critical role in shipping since there is a high demand for fast transfer and communication between the parts of a shipping contract. The development of Automatic Identification System (AIS) is intended to improve maritime safety by tracking the vessels and exchange inter-ship information.  This master’s thesis purpose was to a) investigate in which business decisions the Automatic Identification System helps the shipowners and operators (i.e., users), b) find the benefits and perils arisen from its use, and c) investigate the possible improvements based on the users’ perceptions. This master’s thesis is a qualitative study using the interpretivism paradigm. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. A total of 6 people participated with the following criteria: a) position on technical department or DPA or shipowner, b) participating on business decisions, c) shipping company owns a fleet, and d) deals with AIS data. The Thematic Analysis led to twenty-six codes, twelve categories and five concepts. Empirical findings showed that AIS data mostly contributes to make strategic business decisions. Participants are interested in using AIS data to measure the efficiency of their fleet and ports, to estimate the fuel consumption, to reduce their costs, to protect the environment and people’s health, to analyze the trade market, to predict the time of arrival, the optimal route and speed, to maintain highest security levels and to reduce the inaccuracies due to manual input of some AIS attributes. Finally, participants mentioned some AIS challenges including technological improvement (e.g., transponders, antennas) as well as the operation of autonomous vessels.  Finally, this master’s thesis contributes using the prescriptive and descriptive theories and help stakeholders to find new decisions while researchers and developers to advance their products.

Med en allt hårdare konkurrens om arbetstillfällena för fartygsbefäl krävs det att den arbetssökande att sticker ut ur mängden vid en arbetsansökan. Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka vad den svenska sjöfartsbranschen värderar av innehållet i ett CV och personligt brev vid anställning av nyutexaminerade svenska fartygsbefäl. Detta har undersökts genom intervjuer med nio rekryterare från olika rederier och managementbolag som anställer svenska juniorbefäl. Genom att söka efter tidigare studier som gjorts angående rekrytering skapades en bredare förståelse av ämnet och dess relevans. Litteratursökningen visade att det finns en kunskapslucka angående hur ett nyutexaminerat svenskt fartygsbefäl bör skriva sitt CV och personliga brev för att vara rekryterare i sjöfartsbranschen till lags. Resultatet av studien visar på vissa mönster i svaren från respondenterna, gemensamt är att det efterfrågas korta CV samt personliga brev med innehåll som är relevant för den sökta tjänsten. Samtidigt visar resultaten att en arbetsansökan tolkas subjektivt och därför i viss mån bör skräddarsys för varje enskild tjänst. / As the competition for employment toughens amongst deck officers high effort is required in order to stand out from the crowd regarding job applications. The purpose of this study has been to investigate what content the Swedish shipping industry values most in CVs and cover letters. This was achieved by interviewing nine recruiters from different shipping companies and management agencies that recruit Swedish junior officers. A literature search regarding previous studies concerning recruitment provided a wider understanding of the subject and its relevance for maritime science graduates. The literature search also revealed a knowledge gap regarding recruiters in the Swedish shipping industry preferences about CVs and cover letters. The results of the study show some patterns and tendencies amongst the respondents, common to all of which is a preference of short and concise CVs and cover letters with content that is relevant for the applied position. The results also show that a job application is interpreted subjectively and therefore to some extent must be tailored to each individual employment opportunity.

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本研究主要在探討台灣貨櫃航商之競爭策略，首先聚焦在全球整體海運業之定期船業務，因其運送約七成貨物價值之貨載，而貨櫃航運業運輸量則佔定期船運量超過九成，重要性不言可喻。台灣貨櫃船公司更在世界航運舞台，扮演重要角色成效斐然，因此以台灣貨櫃航運業為研究對象，專注於研究台灣貨櫃船公司所面臨的環境壓力衝擊、分析產業競爭問題、產業風險及成本結構、以歸納建議因應當代變局的關鍵競爭策略。 透過與業界深具實務經驗的資深專家訪談，並以進行面對面深度訪談及勾選問卷聚焦填答方式，對於研究問題經由具決策權之高階管理專家，得到更深遠寬廣的義涵與解答。本研究歸納受訪專家的結論認為：要改善貨櫃海運產業的激烈競爭態勢，當務之急是航商之間應擇優策略聯盟，不該盲目跟進大量訂造新船，宜審慎避免過度投資及過量增加船舶艙位，造成產業運能供給與需求失衡。 規劃產業的競爭策略最重要的是要把公司放入「環境」中考量。貨櫃航運業歷經逾五十年的發展，已逐步過渡到溫和成長的「成熟期產業」階段。這個階段伴隨技術成熟與極度標準化的國際競爭加劇，而使產業獲利走低，業者必須格外著重降低成本與提升服務品質，執行風險管理，並兼顧產品組合之合理化及正確訂價，且要積極穩固忠誠的老客戶，才足以因應嚴峻情勢變化與挑戰，同時必須實施流程創新與再造，及加強管控產業的各項「不確定性」風險。 業者應積極整合組織中外顯與內隱的競爭優勢，以科學管理方式實踐合理化，創新性與競合式發展策略，並強調知識經濟與核心能力為主的差異化策略，實質確保永續優勢的「競爭策略」。 / This study explored the competitive strategies of Taiwanese container shipping companies. I focus on the impact of the environmental pressures on these companies, and highlighted their key competitive strategies. Based on depth interviews and questionnaire with industrial senior executive experts, this study suggests that Taiwanese container shipping companies consider to reduce their risk exposure by forming strategic alliances and to avoid making excessive new vessels building and investment, in facing increasing imbalance of worldwide fleet loading capacity in container shipping industry. Global container shipping industry has developed over than 50 years and is now toward “Industry maturity period”. Competitors in such an industry should focus on lowering cost and strengthening the quality of service to secure customer loyalty. At same time, competitors in the industry should also strive for process innovation and better risk management. They should also develop the core competence and try to differentiate themselves from other competitors in order to ensure their sustainable advantages.