A part of Watch Media

ShippingWatchMonday30 January 2023

  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Latest
  • Search
  • Log in
  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
15/05/2018at 12:16

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.
Photo: PR-foto/Hapag-Lloyd
by OLE ANDERSEN, LOUISE VOGDRUP-SCHMIDT

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.

Other solutions

He added that there are many other similar projects being developed, but that Maersk and IBM's blockchain project is the most prominent one being discussed.

"Without a joint solution, we're going to waste a lot of money, and that would benefit no one."

He notes that liner companies need to join forces across the sector to develop a joint solution for the industry to ensure that the blockchain technology is used properly and makes the sector more efficient. If one could get five to seven carriers to work together, one could achieve meaningful progress in the field, and this would also benefit customers.

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

Maersk Chief Digital Officer: Why we are a digital pioneer in shipping 

Singapore debating big data: a savior for the shipping sector or just a fantasy?

Cargill's dry bulk business part of groundbreaking technology 

Related articles:

  • Ibrahim Gokcen, Chief Digital Officer, Maersk Group, on the firm's Capital Markets Day Feb. 20 2018. | Photo: Maersk

    Maersk Chief Digital Officer: Why we are a digital pioneer in shipping

  • Photo: Hyundai Merchant Marine

    Singapore debating big data: a savior for the shipping sector or just a fantasy?

    For subscribers

  • Photo: Ritzau Scanpix/AP/Andre Penner

    Cargill's dry bulk business part of groundbreaking technology

    For subscribers

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay ahead of development by receiving our newsletter on the latest sector knowledge.

!
Newsletter terms

Front page now

Maersk group head at the time Jess Søderberg, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller, the Queen of Denmark, Margrethe II, and Prince Henrik of Denmark in 1997 when the ship was launched. | Photo: Carsten Andreasen/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk divests historic ship – was world's biggest in 1997

The Danish shipping major has sold a vessel that was the world’s largest when completed at the Lindø shipyard in 1997.
  • World's largest vessel is far from maximum capacity on maiden voyage
  • Maersk's large methanol-fueled ships now under construction
Foto: Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix
Ports

Port of Rotterdam expects regular bunkering of methanol by the summer

For subscribers

Tim Power, managing director and head of maritime advisors at maritime consultancy Drewry, is skeptic about Maersk's land freight ambitions. The picture is from the Marine Money conference in London in 2020. | Foto: Marine Money
Container

Drewry director eyes one central weakness in Maersk's strategy

For subscribers

Foto: borja suarez
Container

Police find 4.5 tonnes of cocaine aboard freighter at Canary Islands

Foto: Höegh Autoliners
Carriers

Car carriers have rarely seen such profits: "We are probably at an all-time high"

For subscribers

Foto: Markus Scholz/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk rebrands Hamburg Süd and several other well-known subsidiaries

For subscribers

Further reading

Chief execs of Maersk and MSC, Vincent Clerc and Søren Toft, acknowledges that much have changed for the carriers since launching the 2M alliance. For that reason, the partnership is now ended. | Foto: Jacob Gronholt-pedersen/reuters/ritzau Scanpix og Jason Decrow/ap/ritzau Scanpix
Container

End of 2M alliance could trigger a domino effect

A new reality on freight markets and a need for fewer ties could be main reasons behind MSC and Maersk terminating their partnership. More alliance dissolutions could be coming, according to shipping analyst.

For subscribers

Foto: Markus Scholz/AP/Ritzau Scanpix
Container

Maersk rebrands Hamburg Süd and several other well-known subsidiaries

Hamburg Süd will lose its company name and gradually be integrated into the Maersk brand. A number of other subsidiaries face rebranding as well.

For subscribers

Foto: Höegh Autoliners
Carriers

Car carriers have rarely seen such profits: "We are probably at an all-time high"

After a difficult time during the pandemic, 2022 has exceeded all expectations for car carriers, says chief exec of Höegh Autoliners. Low capacity and electric cars out of China are main factors in elevating prices.

For subscribers

Latest news

  • Maersk divests historic ship – was world's biggest in 1997 – 11:14
  • Port of Rotterdam expects regular bunkering of methanol by the summer – 11:13
  • Drewry director eyes one central weakness in Maersk's strategy – 10:26
  • Police find 4.5 tonnes of cocaine aboard freighter at Canary Islands – 07:55
  • Blue Water founder promises future "focus on profitable growth" – 27 Jan
  • Borr Drilling raises USD 400m to pay off debt – 27 Jan
  • Income for ice class tankers has surged by 1,644 percent following sanctions – 27 Jan
  • Floating power station to provide energy for one million Ukrainians – 27 Jan
  • Maersk rebrands Hamburg Süd and several other well-known subsidiaries – 27 Jan
  • Car carriers have rarely seen such profits: "We are probably at an all-time high" – 27 Jan
See all

Jobs

  • Foundation Package Manager - Offshore wind industry

  • Chartering Manager for Lauritzen Bulkers A/S

  • Junior Finance Business Partner - offshore wind industry

  • Copenhagen Shipping Company is hiring a skilled cargo broker

  • Financial Controller for International Shipping Company

  • Senior Lead, Human Sustainability at Sea

Jobs

  • Foundation Package Manager - Offshore wind industry

  • Chartering Manager for Lauritzen Bulkers A/S

  • Junior Finance Business Partner - offshore wind industry

  • Copenhagen Shipping Company is hiring a skilled cargo broker

  • Financial Controller for International Shipping Company

  • Senior Lead, Human Sustainability at Sea

See all jobs

Colophon

ShippingWatch
Search

Sections

  • Carriers
  • Logistics
  • Regulation
  • Suppliers
  • Offshore
  • Ports
  • Sitemap
  • RSS feeds

Editor

Tomas Kristiansen

tk@shippingwatch.dk

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

Editor-in-chief

Anders Heering

Publisher

JP/Politiken Media Group Ltd

Advertising

annoncering@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Advertising

Job Advertising

job@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Jobs

Subscription

Try ShippingWatch or get an offer for a subscription meeting the exact needs of you or your company.

shippingwatch@infowatch.dk

Tel.: +45 7077 7445

Learn more about subscriptions here

Address

ShippingWatch

Rådhuspladsen 37

1785 Copenhagen K, Denmark

Tel.: +45 3330 8360

Guidelines

  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © ShippingWatch — All rights reserved

Microsoft is in the process of discontinuing Internet Explorer – and so are we.
For a better experience, we recommend using one of the following browsers.

Kind regards,
ShippingWatch

Google ChromeMozilla FirefoxMicrosoft Edge