TradeLens - Blockchain Platform for Maritime Transport and Supply Chain
Sector: Tertiary sector · Industry: Shipping and maritime transport · Organisation: A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S (Mærsk), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) · Maturity level: Production
TradeLens was a blockchain platform by Maersk and IBM designed to digitize the global maritime transport supply chain. The platform aimed to solve manual documentation, complex processes, and lack of transparency in the shipping industry through secure, digital data exchange. The project achieved transit time reductions of up to 40 percent and documentation cost savings of 20 percent, but was discontinued in late 2022 due to lack of industry-wide adoption.
Documentation status
- Project status: Production
- Evidence: Evidence high
- Editorial review: Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026
Description
TradeLens was founded in 2018 by IBM and Maersk as a blockchain platform for global container shipping. The system was built on IBM Blockchain (Hyperledger Fabric) and connected ports, customs authorities, freight forwarders, carriers, and recipients on a shared data platform.
TradeLens recorded every handover point of a container shipment on the blockchain: loading at the export port, customs clearance, sea transport, unloading at the import port, onward transport. All participants saw the same immutable shipment status in real time — no more information asymmetry. At its peak: 300+ network members, 600+ million documented shipment events, reportedly 50% of the global container sea freight volume. Deutsche Post DHL was a strategic partner. On 29 November 2022, Maersk and IBM announced the discontinuation of TradeLens — reason given: lack of global industry acceptance for complete standardisation. Lessons learned: a blockchain network fails if competitors (here: other shipping companies like CMA CGM, MSC) are not willing to share data on a platform controlled by Maersk. Governance was the core problem, not the technology. Tech Monitor analysed the collapse in detail.
Perspectives
B2B — organisations perspective
The TradeLens story shows: blockchain-based supply chain networking works technically — the critical challenge is governance and neutrality. Successor initiatives like GSBN (Global Shipping Business Network) are trying to solve this with genuine neutrality.
B2C — consumers perspective
End customers would have indirectly benefited from more reliable delivery times and reduced shipping costs resulting from efficiency improvements in the supply chain. However, most consumers would not have had direct contact with the platform.
Employees perspective
Employees in logistics would have benefited from reduced manual documentation tasks and automated processes, creating more time for strategic and customer-focused activities. At the same time, using the platform required new digital skills and training in handling blockchain-based systems.
Benefits
General
- Reduction of transit times by up to 40 percent through improved coordination and automation.
- Cost savings of 20 percent in documentation through digitisation of paper-based processes.
- Increased transparency and traceability for all participants in the supply chain in real time.
B2B — organisations
- Companies could save several thousand US dollars per shipment through more efficient communication and reduced delays.
Employees
- Employees were relieved from repetitive manual documentation tasks and could focus on more value-adding activities.
Challenges
General
- Lack of industry-wide acceptance and insufficient participant numbers led to the discontinuation of the economically unsustainable project.
- Complex integration with existing IT systems of various companies required significant technical and organisational adjustments.
B2B — organisations
- Concerns about competition and data protection prevented many companies from joining the platform.
Employees
- Employees had to acquire new technical skills in handling blockchain technology and adapt their workflows to digital processes.
Technology foundation
TradeLens was based on IBM Blockchain technology and used Hyperledger Fabric as its technical foundation. This technology was particularly suitable as it is a permissioned blockchain that can securely exchange confidential business data between trusted partners while ensuring the necessary transparency for all participants in the supply chain.
Implementation examples
TradeLens pilot project with packaging materials
Maersk wanted to digitise the inefficient, paper-based documentation in shipping and improve transparency in the global supply chain. The company sought ways to reduce delays and lower operating costs.
Maersk tested TradeLens in a 12-month pilot phase focusing on packaging material transports.
During the testing phase, over 154 million data points on ship shipments were collected and processed. The pilot project demonstrated a 40 percent reduction in transit time for shipments of packaging materials. Improved communication and automation saved several thousand US dollars in costs per delivery.
Reduction of transit time by 40 percent and cost savings of several thousand US dollars per shipment during the test phase.
Manual documentation caused high costs and delays, while lack of transparency led to inefficient communication between supply chain partners. Data manipulation and human errors in paper-based documentation were minimised by the blockchain solution.
Tags
Supply chain, Transparency, Smart contracts, Documentation, Maritime logistics