Standards set for electronic bills of lading

Carriers’ digitalisation organisation seeks to facilitate and promote standardised documentation for shipping.

The Digital Container Shipping Association has taken the first steps of its eDocumentation initiative with the publication of the data and process standard for the shipping instructions and bills of lading.

The multi-year eDocumentation programme will deliver standards to enable digitalisation of end-to-end container shipping documentation, starting with the bill of lading.

The association hopes to facilitate adoption of an electronic bill of lading by regulators, banks and insurers and to unify communication between organisations and customers, carriers and all other stakeholders involved in a transaction.

“Digitising documentation, starting with the bill of lading, is key to the simplification and digitalisation of global trade,” said chief executive Thomas Bagge. “The alignment we’ve achieved among the carriers is a critical milestone on the way to full eBL adoption.

“Paperless trade will benefit all parties involved in a transaction in terms of cost reduction, customer experience, efficiency, growth, innovation and sustainability. We invite all industry stakeholders to collaborate with us on optimising eDocumentation standards for safely and seamlessly delivering goods to their final destination.”

Oswald Kuyler, managing director of the Digital Standards Initiative at the International Chamber of Commerce, said the pandemic had brought urgency to the shift towards the digitalisation of global trade.

“Achieving a standardised eBL is a foundational element of that transformation,” he said. “It’s fantastic to see alliances stepping up to the challenge, working with industry stakeholders and delivering something practical that can have a tangible impact.”

The DCSA was set up by the major container lines last year to bring about interoperable standard in the sector, and announced its road map for eBLs earlier this year.

The eBL standard publication comprises the following documents: DCSA Standard for the Bill of Lading 1.0, the DCSA Industry Blueprint 3.0, the DCSA Information Model 3.0 and the DCSA Interface Standard for the Bill of Lading.

The Standard for the Bill of Lading, Industry Blueprint and Information Model are immediately available to download on the association’s website. The Interface Standard will be available next month.

Source: Lloyd´s