ITCO & BIC announce digital verification for tank containers

Thanks to a new collaboration, ocean carriers will be able to verify tank container specifications and inspection certificates through BIC’s BoxTech database, either via online access or an API. BIC is also targeting adding another important container class as it works to improve supply chain digitalisation.

The International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) and the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) announced at the ITCO members meeting in Antwerp this week that the ITCO Digital Committee has reached a major milestone: live tank container data is now available in BoxTech.

“ITCO members Stolt Tank Containers and Bertschi have uploaded several hundred units, including inspection certificates, to demonstrate how ocean carriers can access the information they need to automate onboarding of tank containers quickly and easily. Ocean carriers are now invited to join a pilot programme, starting in early 2027, to prove the value of the new approach in day-to-day operations,” ITCO and BIC stated.

Adding tank container data to BoxTech, BIC’s free global database of container technical details, is a significant win for carriers and tank container operators. Ocean carriers need to confirm tank container inspection certificates and specifications before they can accept a tank container. “Today, that onboarding process is largely manual: details are requested and exchanged by email, then checked and entered into carriers’ systems by hand. Some carriers estimate it takes up to 30 minutes per tank container, with additional time for the tank operator to gather and provide the information,” BIC & ITCO said.

This story was originally published by World Cargo News. Read the full story at World Cargo News →