Promoting information systems interoperability in enhancing compliance with maritime transport rules and regulations in Tanzania

This study was conducted to investigate how information systems interoperability can enhance maritime transport compliance monitoring and evaluation in Tanzania, specifically to identify the challenges posed by non-interoperable information systems and to investigate the barriers to achieving interoperability in maritime transport compliance monitoring and evaluation. The Responsive Regulation Theory and the Socio-Economic Theory of Regulatory Compliance guided this research. The study employed a convergent or concurrent design using a mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative research approaches). Simple random sampling was utilized to select 171 respondents using Yamane’s formula for the quantitative component and eleven (11) participants through the purposive sampling technique for the qualitative component. The population comprised 300 individuals from Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation (TASAC) as the maritime transport regulator authority and regulated entities, from which, out of the 171 questionnaires issued, 160 were returned, resulting in a response rate of 93 percent, and based on data saturation and consultation with experts, in-depth semi-structured interviews with eleven (11) TASAC employees and compliance officers from regulated entities were used to collect qualitative data. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and document analysis and analyzed using thematic analysis, descriptive analysis, and inferential analysis through ordered logistic regression. Delays in data retrieval, inconsistencies and inaccuracies across information sources, and inefficiencies in compliance reporting are among the critical challenges identified due to non-interoperable information systems. Furthermore, barriers such as information security risks, institutional information system fragmentation, and a lack of harmonized standards were found to significantly hinder the achievement of interoperability. The findings provide valuable insights for the Tanzania Maritime Regulatory Authority (TASAC), policymakers, and industry stakeholders on the need to have collaborative efforts for fostering secure, transparent, and efficient maritime operations through regulatory frameworks alignment, standardizing reporting procedures, integrating platforms such as the National Maritime Single Window (NMSW) and the Port Community System (PCS), and making governance structures more effective to ensure accountability and sustainability. By establishing an interconnected and secure digital environment, compliance monitoring and evaluation can become more efficient, transparent, and reliable.