New BIC and SMDG Collaboration to Improve Global Shipping Standards
17 July 2024 – The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) and the Ship Message Design Group (SMDG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalize their collaboration on a new Global Container Geofence Library.
The MoU was signed on July 8th at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. It cements the new joint initiative, which aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of geofencing data used in the shipping and logistics industry. The signing took place during the UN/CEFACT forum at which a newly published UN white paper on Geofencing was announced.
It marks a significant milestone in the partnership between BIC and SMDG and their joint efforts to enhance global shipping standards. The new endeavour builds on the success of the Global Container Facility Code API, launched by the two organizations in 2022.
“This MoU represents a step forward in our efforts to standardize and improve the accuracy of geofencing data across the industry and helps build a stable foundation for wide adoption of IoT-equipped containers,” says Douglas Owen, Secretary General of BIC. “Our continued collaboration with SMDG reflects the industry’s desire to collaborate and to adopt standards that ensure reliable and consistent data for all stakeholders in the supply chain.”
Michael Schroeder, board member of SMDG, adds, “We are excited to deepen our partnership with BIC. The Global Container Geofence Library is already on its way to becoming a valuable resource for the industry, helping the industry to adopt smart containers and improving the overall efficiency of supply chains worldwide.”
The new MoU coincided with the release of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) white paper titled “Geofencing Facilities in Transport and Logistics“. More than 30 experts from ocean carriers, IoT (Internet of Things) providers and supply chain experts from around the world collaborated on the paper, which outlines recommendations and methodology to provide consistency in the drawing and reviewing of geofences for terminals and other container handling facilities within the supply chain. The geofences are published in the Global Container Geofence Library and linked to the already standardized global facility codes maintained by BIC and SMDG. The BIC Facility Code and SMDG Terminal Code are both child codes of the UN/LOCODE and are widely used for electronic container event message exchanges (EDIFACT and API).
The collaboration between BIC And SMDG further supports the adoption and standardization of smart container technologies and addresses the current challenges in implementing geofences.
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About BIC
The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) was founded under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1933 as a neutral, non-profit, international organization. The BIC seeks to promote efficiency, safety, security, standardization, and sustainability in the container supply chain and today has over 2800 container owning and operating members in 128 countries. Publisher of the BIC Code Register since 1970, the BIC also operates the BoxTech Global Container Database (bic-boxtech.org), providing API-accessible equipment details to help improve efficiency and safety in the supply chain, as well as the BIC Facility Code Database, providing harmonized codes to identify over 17,000 container facilities in 190 countries. The BIC also operates the Global ACEP Database under the guidance of the IMO. The BIC holds official observer status as an NGO at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) and works closely with the ISO and other standards organizations.
Learn more at www.bic-code.org
About SMDG
SMDG e.V. is a registered non-profit association, run by and on behalf of companies and organizations working in the maritime industry, like container terminals, ocean carriers, and related companies and organizations.
The name SMDG (Ship Message Design Group) originates from the late 1980-is when a group of IT experts got together for the design of the EDIFACT message BAPLIE. In the 1990-is already the scope of this group widened to the definition of more EDIFACT messages for the maritime business. After more than 30 years of working in the standardization of EDI SMDG has been recognized as an official UN/CEFACT User Group for the maritime business. Since its inception in 1987, SMDG arranged for a multitude of international meetings and workshops all over the world. Topics include but are not limited to standard messages. We take care that discussions remain strictly technical and pre-competitive, avoiding becoming in conflict with anti-trust regulations.
Learn more at https://smdg.org/
For media inquiries, please contact:
BIC
Douglas Owen
[email protected]
www.bic-code.org
SMDG
Ann-Christin Fröhmcke
