Taking next blockchain technology step
The pilot blockchain project that the carrier Zim ran over the last year is now entering its next phase. The blockchain technology-based paperless bills-of-lading platform has been tested for trade activities on multiple shipping lanes since November 2017.
Supported by cooperation partners Wave and Sparx, Zim continued to evaluate the platform which can replace paper and improve current activities which rely on emails, fax and other existing tools.
In two recent transactions, original bills of lading were transferred to the receiver in less than two hours after a vessel’s departure, a process that ordinarily takes days or even weeks.
One consignment was shipped from Vietnam to the US east coast, and a shipment of eleven high cube special containers were loaded in Koper and shipped to Haifa.
The eB/L will be offered from Q1/2019 onwards on Zim's Asia-South Africa and North America-Mediterranean trades. These trades were chosen due to their diverse activities and involved players. (kd)