**5. Conclusion**

As data-centric processes gain more momentum, shipping and port operations are transformed by meticulously embracing innovative business models and Industry 4.0 technologies. Reliable, secure, and efficient cross-collaboration maritime logistic processes are of paramount importance for the promotion of automated ports, as critical nodes in sustainable, digital supply chains.

A decentralized maritime logistics management system, such as a blockchainbased and IoT-aware system that is deployed over a Physical Internet reference architecture, can support and further advance the development of shipping digitalization and ports' automation. AI techniques and respective platforms can exploit real-time information on the movements of ships using AIS and IoT, also port infrastructures and machinery information, and data from vehicles and objects supporting the overall logistics flow, in road or air transport segments, respectively. In this chapter, we outline the technologies and provide a blueprint for building efficient, decentralized, scalable Logistics 4.0 systems, offering a prototype infrastructure model and immediate practice guidance to the next-generation shipping and port community.
