Rivals reject blockchain solution from Maersk and IBM

Maersk and IBM's blockchain solution for the container sector is not relevant to CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd in its current form. There is a need for a joint industry standard, says Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen.

BY OLE ANDERSEN, LOUISE VOGDRUP-SCHMIDT

Published: 15.05.18 at 12:16

HAMBURG

Maersk's ambitions of developing a new technical platform built on blockchain technology, developed with IBM, for the container sector overall gets a muted reception from two of the liner company's closes rivals, German Hapag-Lloyd and France's CMA CGM.

Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen, speaking at the annual Global Liner Shipping Conference in Hamburg, rejected the trend of the current development of numerous blockchain solutions and other digital projects underway in the container sector.

According to Jansen and Peter Wolf, general manager of CMA CGM in Germany, the basis prerequisite for a joint digital platform platform in the sector, one which the biggest liner companies will be part of, is to ensure a common standard.

"Technically the solution (by Maersk and IBM) could be a good platform, but it will require a governance that makes it an industry platform and not just a platform for Maersk and IBM. And this is the weakness we're currently seeing in many of these initiatives, as each individual project claims to offer an industry platform that they themselves control. This is self-contradictory," said Jansen at the conference.

Maersk, IBM and blockchain

Maersk and IBM will establish a joint venture which will "provide more efficient and secure methods for conducting global trade using blockchain technology.
The company will be listed in New York and Maersk will own 51 percent.
The aim is to offer a jointly developed digitalization platform for global trade which is based on standards and designed for use by the entire global shipping ecosystem.
The head of the new company will be Mike White. He has previously told Danish media Finans that it will take 2-3 years before the partnership is a positive business for the two companies.
IBM's Head of Global Trade Digitalization, Norbert Kouwenhoven, told ShippingWatch last year that "There are 27 billion euros of savings to gain between the supply chain partners just from efficient sharing of information".

Wolf also says that a digital solution in which the 5-7 biggest liner companies develop joint platform is the only realistic way forward for the container sector.

The chairman of the European Shippers Council, Denis Choumert, welcomes the idea of a joint blockchain solution among liner companies.

"If it's possible within the international competition regulations," he said at the conference.

Maersk and IBM see themselves as pioneers

Last year Maersk and IBM launched a joint venture to develop a solution for container shipping that would use blockchain and other technlogies.

The partners describe it as an open platform that will increase transparency in the supply chain and digitalize paperwork related to importing and exporting goods.

English Edit: Daniel Logan Berg-Munch

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