ABP goes through blockchain with fine-tooth comb

Photo: G2Crowd

Associated British Ports (ABP) has signed a memorandum of understanding with Marine Transport International (MTI) to explore the possibilities of using blockchain in improving port connectivity.

"Currently, each party in a supply chain, from shipper to haulier and from port operator to carrier, uses different systems, which do not all talk to each other efficiently," ABP's press release reads. As such, ABP will participate in MTI's blockchain solution in pilot shipments to see whether this technology could offer a way to securely link these disparate ways of working and by bridging the silos to reduce time spent on manually re-entering data, hence ensuring a single version of the truth.

"We handle almost 100 million tonnes of cargo across all sectors every year so we are a significant gateway for our customers' supply chains," Jens Skibsted Nielsen, Commercial Director, ABP, underlined. "This MOU with MTI is a demonstration of our commitment to technical innovation and finding new ways to improve the UK's supply chains," he also said.

To this Ron Crean, Group Head of Marketing, ABP, and leader of this project, added, "Our aim is to support our customers in achieving frictionless trade. Based on the results from our previous proof of concept project, we are now looking at ways to deploy enterprise-level solutions that can deliver trust, security and speed."

"Blockchain is the buzzword of the logistics industry at the moment. Yet some of the projects making a big splash are blockchain in name only," Jody Cleworth, Founder and CEO, MTI, commented.

He then furthered, "Blockchain-enabled technology has the potential to provide a transparent, secure and accurate way of capturing and sharing data with key parties, but for MTI the critical part is interoperability - it has to be able to openly connect with existing systems. The logistics industry is awash with proprietary technology that forces users to work in a certain way - with blockchain, we can connect all those systems to ensure data is accurately and quickly shared, helping speed-up and simplify the flow of trade in and out of the UK."