The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) and the Ship Message Design Group (SMDG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise their collaboration on a new Global Container Geofence Library.

As well as maintaining the global database of container numbers, BIC  maintains a database of over 17,000 container facilities around the globe that are identified by a 9-character BIC Facility Code. The SMDG is an official UN/CEFACT User Group and maintains the shipping industry’s library of EDIFACT messages. This includes the SMDG Terminal Codes for container terminals around the world.

The geofencing references for the BIC Facility Codes and the SMDG Terminal Codes are not the same. Typically, there can be more than one operational area, such a depot, container repair facility, reserved zone or dangerous goods zone within a single “terminal” area defined by a SMDG Terminal Code. This has the potential to create confusion as shipping containers are increasingly individually tracked and monitored with a view to determining not just the general location of a container, but its status and availability.

The issues around where exactly a container is located and how that location relates to processes and custody of a container can be complicated. For example, some terminals have an SMDG Facility Code for an area that excludes part of the terminal used for holding containers that are waiting for inspection, or a truck waiting area. Another issue is how to deal with locations that overlap, such as operations with a BIC Facility Code within and SMDG Terminal Code area.

To address these issues and develop a unified method for ordering location data BIC and the SMDG signed an MoU on July 8th at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. “It cements the new joint initiative, which aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of geofencing data used in the shipping and logistics industry.  The signing took place during the UN/CEFACT forum at which a newly published UN white paper on Geofencing was announced,” the parties announced.

The new cooperation builds on the earlier Global Container Facility Code API, launched by the two organisations in 2022.

“This MoU represents a step forward in our efforts to standardise and improve the accuracy of geofencing data across the industry and helps build a stable foundation for wide adoption of  IoT-equipped containers,” said Douglas Owen, Secretary General of BIC. “Our continued collaboration with SMDG reflects the industry’s desire to collaborate and to adopt standards that ensure reliable and consistent data for all stakeholders in the supply chain.”

Michael Schroeder, board member of SMDG, added, “We are excited to deepen our partnership with BIC. The Global Container Geofence Library is already on its way to becoming a valuable resource for the industry, helping the industry to adopt smart containers and improving the overall efficiency of supply chains worldwide.”

BIC and the SMDG note that the new MoU coincides with the release of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) white paper titled “Geofencing Facilities in Transport and Logistics”.  

“More than 30 experts from ocean carriers, IoT (Internet of Things) providers and supply chain experts from around the world collaborated on the paper, which outlines recommendations and methodology to provide consistency in the drawing and reviewing of geofences for terminals and other container handling facilities within the supply chain. The geofences are published in the Global Container Geofence Library and linked to the already standardised global facility codes maintained by BIC and SMDG.   The BIC Facility Code and SMDG Terminal Code are both child codes of the UN/LOCODE and are widely used for electronic container event message exchanges (EDIFACT and API),” BIC and SMDG concluded.

The Bureau International des Containers (BIC) and the Ship Message Design Group (SMDG) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to formalise their collaboration on a new Global Container Geofence Library.

As well as maintaining the global database of container numbers, BIC  maintains a database of over 17,000 container facilities around the globe that are identified by a 9-character BIC Facility Code. The SMDG is an official UN/CEFACT User Group and maintains the shipping industry’s library of EDIFACT messages. This includes the SMDG Terminal Codes for container terminals around the world.

The geofencing references for the BIC Facility Codes and the SMDG Terminal Codes are not the same. Typically, there can be more than one operational area, such a depot, container repair facility, reserved zone or dangerous goods zone within a single “terminal” area defined by a SMDG Terminal Code. This has the potential to create confusion as shipping containers are increasingly individually tracked and monitored with a view to determining not just the general location of a container, but its status and availability.

The issues around where exactly a container is located and how that location relates to processes and custody of a container can be complicated. For example, some terminals have an SMDG Facility Code for an area that excludes part of the terminal used for holding containers that are waiting for inspection, or a truck waiting area. Another issue is how to deal with locations that overlap, such as operations with a BIC Facility Code within and SMDG Terminal Code area.

To address these issues and develop a unified method for ordering location data BIC and the SMDG signed an MoU on July 8th at the Palais des Nations, the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland. “It cements the new joint initiative, which aims to improve the accuracy and reliability of geofencing data used in the shipping and logistics industry.  The signing took place during the UN/CEFACT forum at which a newly published UN white paper on Geofencing was announced,” the parties announced.

The new cooperation builds on the earlier Global Container Facility Code API, launched by the two organisations in 2022.

“This MoU represents a step forward in our efforts to standardise and improve the accuracy of geofencing data across the industry and helps build a stable foundation for wide adoption of  IoT-equipped containers,” said Douglas Owen, Secretary General of BIC. “Our continued collaboration with SMDG reflects the industry’s desire to collaborate and to adopt standards that ensure reliable and consistent data for all stakeholders in the supply chain.”

Michael Schroeder, board member of SMDG, added, “We are excited to deepen our partnership with BIC. The Global Container Geofence Library is already on its way to becoming a valuable resource for the industry, helping the industry to adopt smart containers and improving the overall efficiency of supply chains worldwide.”

BIC and the SMDG note that the new MoU coincides with the release of the United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) white paper titled “Geofencing Facilities in Transport and Logistics”.  

“More than 30 experts from ocean carriers, IoT (Internet of Things) providers and supply chain experts from around the world collaborated on the paper, which outlines recommendations and methodology to provide consistency in the drawing and reviewing of geofences for terminals and other container handling facilities within the supply chain. The geofences are published in the Global Container Geofence Library and linked to the already standardised global facility codes maintained by BIC and SMDG.   The BIC Facility Code and SMDG Terminal Code are both child codes of the UN/LOCODE and are widely used for electronic container event message exchanges (EDIFACT and API),” BIC and SMDG concluded.