Global Shipping Business Network

Global Shipping Business Network
Name	Global Shipping Business Network
Type	Consortium
Founded	2017
Headquarters	Singapore
Area served	Global
Members	Maersk, IBM, CMA CGM, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd

Global Shipping Business Network.

Overview

Global Shipping Business Network was a blockchain-based shipping consortium launched to digitize shipping processes and transform maritime transport by linking stakeholders such as Maersk, IBM, CMA CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and Hapag-Lloyd through a shared ledger. The project sought to improve interactions among freight forwarders, ports such as Port of Singapore Authority, customs agencies like United States Customs and Border Protection, and insurers including Lloyd's of London by creating interoperable trade documentation standards. It engaged with standards bodies such as International Maritime Organization, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and International Chamber of Commerce to align digital bills of lading with existing legal frameworks. The initiative intersected with technology firms like Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle in pilots that involved port authorities and global carriers.

History and Development

The consortium emerged after trials between Maersk and IBM that began with a 2016 pilot contrasting traditional bill of lading workflows with blockchain prototypes developed alongside shipping lines and freight forwarders. Public announcements in 2018 referenced partnerships with carriers such as CMA CGM and Mediterranean Shipping Company and coordination with Port of Rotterdam and Port of Los Angeles for supply chain pilots. Over time the network expanded membership to include logistics providers like DHL and Kuehne + Nagel and consulted maritime law experts from institutions including International Chamber of Shipping and UNCITRAL. The initiative tracked alongside digitalization efforts such as TradeLens, Bolero International, and initiatives by UN/CEFACT focused on data harmonization.

Governance and Membership

Governance structures drew on consortium models used by Linux Foundation and Hyperledger Project with steering committees composed of representatives from carrier members, technology partners, and port operators like APM Terminals and DP World. Membership tiers included founding carriers (Maersk, CMA CGM), technology partners (IBM), and service providers (Kuehne + Nagel, DHL), with advisory input from regulatory actors such as European Commission and national agencies like Singapore Maritime and Port Authority. Dispute resolution and legal compliance mechanisms referenced precedents from admiralty law institutions including International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and legal frameworks influenced by Rotterdam Rules discussions.

Technology and Infrastructure

The network used distributed ledger technologies inspired by projects within Hyperledger Fabric and prototypes from IBM Blockchain with cloud deployments leveraging providers like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. It integrated with terminal operating systems from vendors such as Navis and port community systems exemplified by Portbase for the Port of Rotterdam and Singapore Port Community System for Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore interfaces. Cryptographic identity solutions referenced standards from ISO/IEC committees and electronic document formats promoted by International Organization for Standardization and International Chamber of Commerce's Uniform Rules. Trials used APIs compatible with logistic platforms like CargoSmart and data-sharing arrangements modeled after GS1 and IATA messaging frameworks.

Services and Operations

Operational use cases included digitized bill of lading issuance, multimodal tracking involving rail operators like Deutsche Bahn and Russian Railways, customs clearance coordination with agencies such as Customs and Border Protection (U.S.) and China Customs, and supply chain visibility services paralleling offerings by project44 and FourKites. The network aimed to streamline processes for shippers including Walmart and Unilever by reducing paperwork, accelerating claims processing with insurers such as AXA and AIG, and improving port call optimization used by operators like CMA CGM and MSC. Integrations targeted enterprise resource planning suites from SAP and Oracle to support invoicing, compliance, and cargo release workflows.

Economic and Regulatory Impact

Analyses of the consortium referenced trade facilitation outcomes discussed in World Trade Organization and World Bank reports on digitization, estimating reductions in transaction times similar to reforms under Trade Facilitation Agreement. Regulatory engagement involved data privacy regimes such as General Data Protection Regulation and cross-border data transfer considerations raised by European Commission communications. The initiative influenced discussions at forums including International Maritime Organization working groups and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development panels on e‑commerce and maritime trade, affecting maritime digital policy debates and competitive dynamics among carriers like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

Challenges and Future Directions

Practical hurdles included interoperability with competing platforms (e.g., TradeLens, Bolero International), legal recognition of electronic transport documents in jurisdictions debating adoption of Rotterdam Rules, and cybersecurity threats discussed in NATO and Interpol advisories. Scaling required alignment with port communities such as Port of Los Angeles and Port of New York and New Jersey, wider adoption by forwarders like DB Schenker, and coordination with standards bodies including UN/CEFACT and ISO. Future directions considered integration with digital customs initiatives exemplified by Single Window projects, expansion into airfreight ecosystems involving IATA, and adoption of emerging technologies promoted by World Economic Forum and research institutions such as MIT and Singapore University of Technology and Design.

Category:Shipping consortia