On February 15, the Digital Container Shipping Alliance (DCSA) composed of 9 shipping companies including Mediterranean Shipping (MSC), Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen Shipping, Yang Ming Shipping, HMM and Star Shipping Announced that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Baltic International Shipping Council (BIMCO), the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) to establish the Future International Trade Alliance Trade Alliance, FIT Alliance).

The partners of the new alliance will work together to make the industry realize the importance of establishing uniform data standards across platforms around the world. The purpose is to facilitate the acceptance and adoption of electronic bills of lading (eBL) by regulators, banks and insurance companies, and to provide a communication platform for all stakeholders in international trade.