First Blockchain Container Shipped to Rotterdam

The first paperless, instantly financed and fully door-to-door tracked container made its way from Korea to the warehouse of Samsung SDS in Tilburg via Port of Rotterdam on blockchain-based platform DELIVER.

ABN AMRO, Port of Rotterdam and Samsung SDS demonstrated that blockchain technology enables interoperability, and that integrated container tracking and tracing, required cargo documentation processing and financing can all be done in a trusted, secure and paperless way.

As demonstrated in a Proof of Concept (PoC), a comprehensive supply chain management system with paperless integration of physical, administrative and financial flows is now truly feasible, the Port of Rotterdam explained.

The Proof of Concept has shown that DELIVER can support cross-supply chain end-to-end visibility for multi-modal cargo transport via ocean carrier, truck and inland barge shipping, as well as streamline access to finance.

As logistics service provider, Barge Terminal Tilburg organised and executed the haulage of the sea container from the Port of Rotterdam to the warehouse in Tilburg.

“The first shipments to use the platform gave us a good insight into the possibilities of large-scale implementation. As cargo recipient, we benefitted from real time information and advance availability of digitized cargo documentation. We can re-design our processes more efficiently, enabling us to act based on real-time events and trusted data,” Robert van der Waal, Deputy President of Samsung SDS EU/CIS, DELIVER, said.

With the Proof of Concept phase completed, partners ABN AMRO, Port of Rotterdam and Samsung SDS have signed an extended collaboration agreement for the next phase of the DELIVER project.

The goal of this new phase is to conduct pilot projects with multiple shippers from various industries operating in different trade lanes, with the ultimate objective of reaching an open, independent and global cargo shipping platform.