IQAX Becomes First eBL Solution Globally to Go Live with DCSA eBL API v3.0 on GSBN
- Zachary Wong
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
New standard now available to all DCSA carrier members on GSBN, enabling streamlined integration and faster rollout, as over 550,000 eBLs issued
Hong Kong, 16 June 2025 – Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), a neutral, not-for-profit consortium enabling paperless, accessible, and sustainable global trade with its data infrastructure and ecosystem of partners, today announced that with the collaboration of its carrier members, IQAX has become the first eBL solution worldwide to successfully go live with the latest Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) API schema version 3.0.
The landmark deployment went live on 11 June 2025, following months of close collaboration between GSBN, its carrier members, and the global digital trade technology company, IQAX. The teams worked together to ensure the API-based data exchange is compliant, and culminating in the successful completion of the DCSA end-to-end conformance test.
This milestone also builds on rapid eBL adoption, with over 550,000 eBLs processed to date via GSBN blockchain-enabled infrastructure and covering over 100 countries. As part of GSBN’s ongoing efforts to promote greater adoption, DCSA eBL API v3.0 is now available to all DCSA carrier members on the GSBN platform, enabling streamlined integration and faster rollout.
George Guo, CEO at IQAX, said, “We are happy to support our carrier customers that are DCSA members such as Hapag-Lloyd, in implementing their preferred eBL standard. IQAX eBL is designed to prioritize the operational needs of container carriers as exemplified by this implementation. As the only eBL solution supporting all major international standards, we aim to offer greater flexibility and choice to carriers and their customers to accelerate eBL adoption and digital trade.”
Since 2023, multiple eBL standards have been implemented on GSBN, including those from BIMCO and most recently, the DCSA. GSBN will also continue its engagement with upcoming data model initiatives, such as the UN/CEFACT Multimodal Transport Reference Data Model and ISO 5909, to further harmonise and scale the digitalisation of trade documents.
Bertrand Chen, CEO at GSBN, said, “As the industry accelerates its transition to digital trade documents, it is vital that GSBN continues to support the diverse needs of all global trade stakeholders. With multiple standards and data models emerging across the ecosystem, there is a growing need for a universal ‘data adapter’, a mechanism that enables trusted data to be used for different trade scenarios, with the proper consent.”
GSBN’s approach goes beyond implementing standards alone. The consortium is also focused on ensuring digitally enabled trade delivers tangible, inclusive benefits across the entire trade ecosystem. This includes actively addressing the needs of corporates and financial institutions, alongside carriers, to build more connected, efficient, and collaborative global supply chains. This is why GSBN is closely working with the International Chambers of Commerce’s Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI) to improve data harmonisation and unlock the full potential of digital trade.
Pamela Mar, Managing Director at International Chambers of Commerce’s Digital Standard Initiative, said, “At ICC DSI, we have worked on the Key Trade Documents and Data Elements (KTDDE) to harmonise the core data found across 36 critical trade documents, laying the foundation for true interoperability across global supply chains. We are very excited to collaborate with organisations active in ensuring that data found in trade documents can be harnessed not only by carriers, but also by corporates and banks.”
Lin Jie, CEO at Worldwide Logistics, added, “IQAX eBL adoption of all the various data standards on GSBN platform, is a game-changer. As a freight forwarder, it gives us the confidence we need to scale digital processes across our customers and partners. The collaboration between GSBN and ICC DSI on the KTDDE further strengthens this foundation, ensuring that the digital documents we adopt today, will remain relevant, compatible and beneficial across the broader ecosystem tomorrow.”
ENDS
About GSBN
The Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) is a neutral, not-for-profit consortium whose mission is to enable paperless, accessible and sustainable growth in global trade with its data infrastructure and ecosystem of partners. GSBN facilitates trusted collaboration between participants across the shipping industry to enable greater efficiencies, and paperless trade as well as supporting the shipping industry’s decarbonisation transition. GSBN’s ecosystem includes shipping lines, terminals, banks, application developers and other consortia. The entire network accounts for more than half of the containers handled in the world.
About IQAX
IQAX is a global technology company that provides digital innovation and data intelligence for enterprises in the global trade ecosystem. Backed by a strong heritage in shipping and logistics, IQAX connects with shippers, freight forwarders, carriers, terminals, and financial institutions, enhancing operational resilience and sustainable growth in today’s ever evolving international trade landscape. IQAX is an independently operated technology company under Orient Overseas International Ltd. (HKEX:0316), which also owns Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), one of the largest integrated international transport and logistics companies in the world.
About International Chamber of Commerce’s Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI)
The ICC Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) aims to accelerate the development of a globally harmonised, digitised trade environment, as a key enabler of dynamic, sustainable, inclusive growth.
We engage the public sector to progress regulatory and institutional reform, and mobilise the private sector on adoption, implementation and capacity building. The Initiative operates in accordance with the management standards of International Chamber of Commerce, and under the guidance of a Governance Board comprising leaders from the ICC, Enterprise Singapore, the Asian Development Bank, World Trade Organization and World Customs Organization. www.dsi.iccwbo.org
About Worldwide Logistics (WWL)
Founded in 2003, from Shanghai, with approximately 1,300 employees, worldwide Logistics (hereinafter referred to as WWL) is ranked 23rd in the list of China's logistics enterprises. WWL operates seven product lines, including full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL), general cargo, bulk cargo, consolidation, international air transportation (trunk packing, ground operation), international land transportation (multimodal transportation of railway, highway and waterway), chemical logistics (tank container and dangerous goods fleet), engineering project logistics, cross-border e-commerce logistics and warehousing & terminal service, to provide end-to-end international integrated logistics services for customers around the world.
Press Contacts
Edelman for GSBN
Winnie Li
+852 2837 4758
Edelman for IQAX
June Wong
+852 3756 8623