Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) has announced that IQAX has become the first solution to integrate the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) API schema version 3.0.
The deployment, which went live on 11 June 2025, was the result of a collaborative effort between GSBN, its carrier members, and IQAX, a global digital trade technology company.
The teams collaborated to ensure that the API-based data exchange complies with regulations, resulting in the successful completion of the DCSA end-to-end conformance test.
The DCSA eBL API v3.0 is now available to all DCSA carrier members on the GSBN platform, facilitating streamlined integration and expediting digital transition.
IQAX CEO George Guo 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 prioritise 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.”
This integration is a major step forward in the digitalisation of trade documentation and builds on the increasing adoption of eBL.
Since 2023, GSBN has implemented multiple eBL standards, including those from BIMCO and the DCSA.
GSBN’s blockchain-enabled infrastructure has processed more than 550,000 eBLs across more than 100 countries.
The consortium is also engaging with future 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.
GSBN CEO Bertrand Chen 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.”
Furthermore, the consortium aims to ensure that digital trade brings inclusive benefits to all stakeholders in the trade ecosystem.
This includes working with the International Chambers of Commerce’s Digital Standards Initiative (ICC DSI) to enhance data harmonisation and maximise the benefits of digital trade.
In 2023, IQAX partnered with COSCO Shipping Captive Insurance to showcase the capabilities of its eBL solutions.
The partnership involved a four-party collaboration agreement with IQAX, COSCO Shipping Captive Insurance, COSCO Shipping Lines, and GSBN.