ITCO and BIC Integrate Live Tank Data into BoxTech
The collaboration automates tank container onboarding to streamline inspection and safety checks for the shipping industry.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) and Bureau International des Containers (BIC) have integrated live tank container data into the BoxTech platform. This move replaces manual onboarding processes with automated data sharing, utilizing 14 core attributes to describe each tank container unit.
Why it matters
Current manual onboarding methods require time-consuming email exchanges and data entry for every container. By automating this process, the industry can ensure that ocean carriers receive consistent, real-time inspection data required for critical safety checks.
BoxTech currently maintains data on over 15 million containers provided by 900-plus owners and 6,000-plus registered users. The new integration uses a standardized set of 14 core attributes to describe tank containers for instant verification via API.
The players
International Tank Container Organisation
This trade association represents the global tank container industry and works to improve safety and operational standards.
Bureau International des Containers
An international non-governmental organization that works to promote safety and security within the container shipping industry.
The details
Operators like Stolt Tank Containers and Bertschi have already uploaded hundreds of units and inspection certificates to the system. Carriers can now verify container specifications instantly through online search tools instead of relying on traditional manual entry methods that can take 30 minutes per tank.
Timeline
October 29, 2026: ITCO and BIC announced the integration of live tank container data.
Early 2027: A pilot program for automated tank container onboarding will commence.
The Tech Race
This integration marks a shift toward digitizing legacy manual processes that have long defined the shipping container lifecycle. It serves as a foundational step toward evolving the ITCO Digital Twin into a comprehensive digital passport for each individual tank.
Shipping and logistics professionals will benefit from faster verification times, replacing manual processes that previously required 30 minutes per tank. This allows operators to quickly access validated inspection certificates and specifications via API or web interfaces.
The takeaway
Automating container data significantly reduces the risk of human error in safety-critical documentation. Industry professionals should prepare for the shift toward digital passport systems as these automated standards become more widely adopted in global shipping lanes.
What happens next
Ocean carriers are scheduled to participate in a pilot program beginning in early 2027 to further test the automated onboarding process.
Further reading
For more updates on logistics security, visit our Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Hellenic Shipping News.
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Do you believe moving manual industrial processes to automated digital verification improves overall shipping safety?
