A. General Information
Singapore-Rotterdam eBL Collaboration
Shipping Lines
Logistics and Service Providers
B. Lessons Learned
In January 2021, Singapore and Rotterdam, Netherlands, completed a trial using an eBL to shadow a live shipment.
In January 2021, Singapore and Rotterdam, Netherlands, completed a trial using an eBL to shadow a live shipment. This shipment was carried out by Ocean Network Express (ONE) in collaboration with Olam and used two different digital platforms, i.e. #dltledgers’ and NaviPorta to perform the title transfer and surrender transactions. Both platforms leveraged the TradeTrust framework as the underlying technology to facilitate these transactions.
Digitalizing trade processes is not only a technology challenge but would also need to consider business needs, standardization and law. To do so, Singapore has adopted the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law’s (UNCITRAL)
Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) into its legislation, a move that provides electronic trade documents such as electronic bills of lading (eBLs) the same legal standing as their paper-based counterparts. Further to this, Singapore has established partnerships such as Digital Economy Agreements (DEAs) with trading partners, creating common frameworks and rules for digital trade that will enable companies to connect with their partners abroad more seamlessly. Additionally, collaborations with international organizations like the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and SWIFT help to assure global players of Singapore’s robust and holistic approach to shifting trade from a paper-based system to a digitally enabled one.
Electronic Bill of Lading