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Hapag-Lloyd and Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE) have completed integration onto the TradeLens platform—a neutral, third-party platform launched by IBM and AP Moller - Maersk to help modernise the world's supply chain ecosystems—run on IBM Cloud and IBM Blockchain.
It’s been almost two years since the two carriers first announced plans to participate in the network, a joint initiative from IBM and Maersk. With their motives finally coming to fruition, it will help ensure a more timely and consistent view of logistics data for their containerised freight around the world.
"TradeLens technology holds great potential to help enable the digitisation of supply chain processes and documentation handling," said Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd. "Our customers will clearly benefit from increased transparency, accuracy, speed and efficiency in their supply chains - leading to reduced cost."
"We believe TradeLens can bring together all parties in the supply chain to the digital ecosystem where customers can get seamless, transparent and secure sharing of shipping milestones and trade documents. With its open standards and open governance, it can benefit our customers and the entire industry to drive for digitalisation and automation," said Jeremy Nixon, CEO of Ocean Network Express.
Following the completion of multiple pilot projects as well as the integration, Hapag-Lloyd and ONE, the world's fifth and sixth largest carriers respectively, are now working to help their clients and business partners across all major geographies benefit from TradeLens' ability to increase efficiency and improve access to information. They join foundation carriers AP Moller - Maersk, CMA CGM and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) which have already completed their pilots and integration, along side five other carriers inputting shipping data into the TradeLens platform.
Additionally, TradeLens continues to rapidly on-board new organisations from across the shipping industry, recently adding shippers and importers including Van den Ban Tires which use the platform to address back office inefficiencies and improve the visibility of cargo.
Recently, KLog.co also became the first freight forwarder in Latin America to join TradeLens to improve efficiency, decrease operational costs and advance KLog.co's goal of opening up international trade to all companies in the region, no matter the size of the business.
"A huge barrier to global trade has long been the inability for customers to securely share crucial information regarding the status of goods in an easily accessible and transparent way," said Mike White, CEO, GTD Solution Inc and Head of TradeLens. "By addressing this problem, the TradeLens ecosystem has grown rapidly, and the onboarding of Hapag-Lloyd and ONE along with their customers helps extend the value of TradeLens across the entire TradeLens ecosystem, enabling connectivity to two-thirds of global containerised freight for all customers and other permissioned parties through a single platform. All participants benefit from reduced manual processes, while also streamlining processes from automation and improved forecasting."
The TradeLens ecosystem now includes more than 300 organisations – encompassing ten ocean carriers and data from more than 600 ports and terminals. TradeLens has already processed 42 million container shipments, nearly 2.2 billion events and some 20 million documents. In total, five of the top six global shipping carriers are now integrated onto the platform contributing to the digitisation of documentation and automated workflows.
Pan Ocean has strengthened its push into the global crude tanker market with an order for four Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), further accelerating the South Korean shipping company’s diversification beyond its traditional dry bulk operations. The Pan Ocean disclosed in a stock exchange filing that it plans to invest KRW 783.4 billion (approximately US$525 million) in the quartet of supertankers, translating to an estimated US$131 million per vessel. Deliveries are scheduled for the second half of 2030. While the shipyard involved in the contract has not yet been disclosed, the latest order marks another significant milestone in Pan Ocean’s growing tanker strategy after decades of operating primarily as a dry bulk shipping heavyweight. The company, controlled by the Harim Group, currently operates a fleet of more than 100 vessels, with dry bulk activities still accounting for nearly 60% of its overall business operations. However, the carrier has rapidly expanded its presence in crude transportation through a combination of newbuilding investments and fleet acquisitions. Earlier this year, Pan Ocean agreed to acquire 10 VLCCs operated by SK Shipping in a transaction valued at nearly US$700 million, substantially increasing its tanker market exposure. The company had also placed an order in 2025 for two VLCC newbuildings at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, with deliveries expected in 2027, while additionally entering the VLCC newbuilding segment through a vessel order at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. The latest investment underscores the continued attractiveness of the crude tanker segment for global shipowners amid evolving energy trade flows and long-term fleet diversification strategies.
PSA Mumbai, the country’s largest container terminal located at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), has expanded its infrastructure with the inauguration of new Super Panamax Quay Cranes to improve cargo handling efficiency and boost port capacity. The inauguration ceremony was attended by PSA International Regional CEO Vincent Ng, PSA Mumbai Executive Director Ashwin Arvind and other dignitaries. The newly added cranes will enhance the operational capabilities of Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Pvt. Ltd. (BMCTPL), helping increase container handling capacity, reduce vessel turnaround and strengthen logistics operations. Officials said the development highlights the growing collaboration between JNPA and PSA India in modernizing port infrastructure and establishing JNPA as one of India’s leading maritime gateways for global trade and commerce JNPA Inaugurates Advanced Cranes At India’s Largest Container Terminal PSA Mumbai, the country’s largest container terminal located at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), has expanded its infrastructure with the inauguration of new Super Panamax Quay Cranes to improve cargo handling efficiency and boost port capacity. The inauguration ceremony was attended by PSA International Regional CEO Vincent Ng, PSA Mumbai Executive Director Ashwin Arvind and other dignitaries. The newly added cranes will enhance the operational capabilities of Bharat Mumbai Container Terminals Pvt. Ltd. (BMCTPL), helping increase container handling capacity, reduce vessel turnaround and strengthen logistics operations. Officials said the development highlights the growing collaboration between JNPA and PSA India in modernizing port infrastructure and establishing JNPA as one of India’s leading maritime gateways for global trade and commerce. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Women’s participation in India’s maritime sector has recorded a sharp increase of 340% since 2020, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, highlighting the government’s efforts to create a more inclusive and future-oriented maritime workforce. Delivering the keynote address at the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi, Sonowal highlighted “Nari Shakti” as a central pillar of India’s maritime growth story. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was joined by His Excellency, Dhananjay Ramful, Foreign Minister of Mauritius, and His Excellency, Waleed Mohammed Al-Qadimi, Minister of State of Yemen. “Through initiatives like ‘Sagar Mein Samman’, we are advancing dignity, inclusion and leadership opportunities for women in the maritime sector, which has seen a remarkable rise of about 340% since 2020,” Sonowal said. “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, this transformation in the maritime sector is helping shape a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready workforce for the Indian Ocean Region.” The minister linked the growing presence of women in the maritime industry to India’s broader strategy of combining economic progress with social empowerment. He said that while India continues to strengthen maritime security, connectivity and sustainability, the “human element” remains at the heart of the country’s maritime agenda. “The Indian Ocean is not just a geographic space, but a global lifeline,” Sonowal said. “Its importance to global energy flows, trade and supply chains calls for stronger cooperation, resilience and inclusivity.” Sonowal emphasised that India’s maritime initiatives are aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including frameworks such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring equitable growth. The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue is being hosted by India in its capacity as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the 2025–27 term. Held under the theme “Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World,” the forum has brought together ministers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders to discuss issues including maritime security, the blue economy, climate change, disaster risk management and women’s empowerment. India’s IORA chairmanship is centred on the themes of “Innovation, Openness, Resilience and Adaptability,” with women’s economic empowerment identified as a major cross-cutting priority. During his address, Sonowal reiterated India’s role as a “net security provider” in the Indian Ocean Region, citing the country’s contributions in humanitarian assistance, maritime surveillance and disaster response operations. He stressed that maritime challenges require collective solutions and called for greater collaboration based on transparency and adherence to international law. “India remains committed to working with all partners to advance a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean Region,” he said. The Indian Ocean Dialogue, launched in Kochi in 2014 as IORA’s flagship Track 1.5 platform, serves as a forum for engagement among governments, experts and industry stakeholders on critical regional issues. IORA currently includes 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners, with a focus on economic cooperation and sustainable development across the Indian Ocean Region. The 10th edition of the Dialogue, being held in New Delhi on May 7 and 8, 2026, includes dedicated discussions on maritime security, blue economy initiatives, disaster resilience, climate action and women’s leadership in the maritime sector.
