Dr Elson Ong
Recent PhD in Law graduate
About me
Legal researcher
My research interests lie in maritime and commercial law, with a focus on bills of lading and the barriers to digitalising commercial shipping. My work explores the legal, technological, and socio-commercial challenges associated with this transformation, particularly in relation to trust.
I recently completed a PhD in law. My thesis, conducted using empirical and doctrinal methodologies, explores why commercial shipping has not been able to digitalise. The project is interdisciplinary in nature, combining insights from law, computer science, social science, and business studies. It also discusses the role of new technologies—such as 3D printing, 5G, AI, blockchain, cloud computing, DLT, IoT, oracles, robotics, and smart contracts—and the risks of adopting them in commercial shipping contexts.
Publications
Digitalising Commercial Shipping: The Relevance of Trust
PhD Thesis
This thesis investigates why commercial shipping has not been able to digitalise. It concludes that a lack of trust in digital service providers impedes digitalisation.
Electronic Bills of Lading, Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology
Book Chapter
This chapter critiqued electronic bill of lading solutions that use novation and attornment mechanisms. Such solutions fragment the bill of lading’s traditional triune functions.
Blockchain Bills of Lading and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records
Journal article
This article recommended that common law jurisdictions adopt the UNCITRAL MLETR to enable legal recognition and enforceability of electronic bills of lading but replace ‘control’ with ‘possession’ to better align with existing common law doctrines.
Blockchain Bills of Lading
Working Paper
This working paper suggested the use of blockchain technology for electronic bills of lading.
Call a Bill a Bill: The Star Quest
Case Comment
This case comment examined The Star Quest, a bunker misdelivery case arising from the global OW Bunker A/S bankruptcy.
Education
PhD in Law, National University of Singapore
LLM (Maritime Law), University of Southampton
LLB (Hons), University of Southampton