ROTTERDAM has become the first major port to implement the Digital Container Shipping Association’s Track and Trace standard into its port community system in an effort to improve container tracking.

The standard allows cargo owners to know the whereabouts and status of their goods from door to door, regardless of the IT systems or logistics service providers they use.

This implementation came through a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, Portbase (the port community system for Dutch ports) and DCSA as part of the Digital Infrastructure Logistics programme of the Netherlands.

It is expected that a future full-scale integration of the DCSA T&T standard in Portbase will ensure export processes are more efficient, reliable and transparent for companies moving their goods through Europe’s busiest port.

The T&T standard is already used by many of DCSA’s container carrier members. DCSA said the standard supported more than 180m monthly container tracking events globally, covering 75% of global container shipping volume.

“The inclusion of the standard in the Port of Rotterdam confirms the status of DCSA’s standard as the de facto T&T standard for the global container shipping ecosystem,” it said. “The collaboration will continue as the parties are currently considering implementing DCSA standards in a new Track and Trace service.”