By Jennifer Chang      Photo : Karolina Grabowska

For centuries, paper bills of lading have played an indispensable role in shipping and trade, serving as vital documents for the transfer of ownership of goods and connecting various stages of the process. However, paper bills of lading come with several drawbacks in the circulation process, such as prolonged transit times, difficulty in verifying authenticity, and high carbon emissions. These issues have become even more pronounced during the pandemic, highlighting the urgent need for a more efficient, secure, and reliable alternative.

Using Electronic Bill of Lading  means electronically managing and transmiting bill of lading information during the transportation of goods. A bill of lading is a document that records the transfer of ownership of goods. Traditionally, bills of lading existed in paper form, requiring manual processing and handling throughout the logistics process, leading to various issues such as delays, errors, and document losses. In recent years, with the continuous development of digital technology, eBL has emerged as a new solution gradually gaining prominence. In the dynamic landscape of global trade, electronic bills of lading (eBL) are becoming a transformative force, fundamentally changing traditional paper-based processes. eBL is the digital version of traditional bills of lading, reshaping enterprise management and simplifying the handling of transport documents. Compared to traditional paper bills of lading, eBL exhibits unparalleled advantages in several aspects. Firstly, eBL ensures higher accuracy of information, reducing the likelihood of human errors. Secondly, data in eBLs is relatively more secure, mitigating the risks associated with paper-based bills of lading. Additionally, eBLs facilitate faster circulation, significantly improving overall efficiency. Most importantly, eBLs contribute to lower carbon emissions compared to their paper counterparts, aligning with environmentally friendly principles.

In response to the trend of energy conservation and carbon reduction in the global shipping industry, the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) comprises members such as Evergreen, Yang Ming, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hyundai Merchant Marine, and ZIM. The goal is to transition 50% of shipping operators, who traditionally use paper bills of lading, to digital electronic bills of lading (eBL) within the next five years, with plans to fully adopt eBLs by 2030. The emergence of digitalized bills of lading represents a new milestone in modern shipping and trade, promising a more efficient and secure trade environment for the industry. Simultaneously, it contributes to the global goals of carbon reduction and energy conservation.

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