DCSA releases Bill of lading 3.0 and Booking 2.0 Beta 1 standards
5 Min read | January 10, 2024
DCSA has published Beta 1 version of the Bill of lading 3.0 and Booking 2.0 standards. The release brings a range of benefits – including increased efficiency and greater alignment with industry expectations – and expands the scope of DCSA’s standards in order to achieve wider industry adoption. This release is accompanied by conformance test suites with key validations for all the relevant business processes, and cloud environments with sandboxes that guide adopters in measuring and improving the conformance of their implementations with the DCSA standards. In addition, the new standard versions use the lightweight notifications pattern, recently chosen by DCSA and its members as the preferred way to optimize API traffic by eliminating the need for registered API consumers to poll API provider endpoints for changes. In practice, this will enable a carrier to send a standardised lightweight notification to a relevant, registered counterparty, which will lower system loads, reduce network traffic and improve business process latency. DCSA has added 15 attributes to support Reefer and Non-Operating Reefers, as well as over 50 attributes to support dangerous goods based on the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code amendment version 41-22, which comes into force on January 1st 2024. Furthermore, the standards are also now able to support advance manifest filings globally – something that was previously limited to the US and Canada. Together, these changes expand the scope and applicability of DCSA’s standards, which will lead to wider industry adoption. Moreover, DCSA now supports a range of Harmonized System codes (HS codes) to classify the products being shipped, meaning each commodity on a booking and bill of lading can be classified by multiple HS codes, where previously it was limited to one. This will ensure information is more accurate and lead to faster, more efficient cargo handling and customs clearance. The update also brings several changes specific to the DCSA’s electronic Bill of Lading (eBL). Notably, it introduces additional standard-based OpenAPI specifications for the eBL issuance and surrender processes, enabling the standardised integration of a carrier’s internal system with that of its eBL solution provider and laying the foundations for full process automation. It also introduces six standardised bill of lading clauses and standardised carrier certificates. – giving shippers the option to choose standard articles they wish to be included in the certificate. In both cases, carriers are not limited to the standardised options available.
Open for feedback
DCSA standards for the Bill of lading 3.0 and Booking 2.0 Beta 1 are now open to public review and feedback for a six-month period. Interested parties can direct questions or comments on the standards to the DCSA feedback page.