MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has fully adopted BIC facility codes (BFC) for all depots globally.

Similar to airports’ three-letter IATA codes, all MSC’s depots are now identifiable with a nine-character BFC, moving one step further on the digitalisation journey. The transition process was completed this year.

MSC said this is a vital step forward. It aims to facilitate smoother communication, increased data clarity and accuracy and a more efficient process.

MSC global chief digital and information officer Andre Simha said, “MSC has been a vocal proponent of harmonising facility codes since the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) was founded and has provided significant support to this project”.

Mr Simha said, “Adopting the BIC facility codes is a great example of a variety of digital workstreams at MSC coming together to make strides for the digital future of shipping”.

The BIC facility codes were created through a major harmonisation project conducted in November 2020 by the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) with the assistance of the DCSA. Collaboration from DCSA member ocean carriers and several of the largest leasing companies means that more than 17,000 container facilities in 192 countries can now be easily identified for supply chain events without ambiguity, with enhanced addressing and latitude/longitude coordinates. The BIC manages the database and offers an open API to allow trading partners to ensure their IT systems are kept up to date.

BIC secretary general Douglas Owen congratulated MSC, saying the company was “laser-focused” on ensuring all its facilities would have a BFC and all its systems were updated to include harmonised codes.

 The end result, for all the carriers now adopting the standard, will be improved efficiency with trading partners and more seamless flow of information between systems,” he said.

DCSA CEO Thomas Bagge said the digital transformation of the container shipping industry is underway.

“DCSA and its members are creating the framework for it, and we invite all stakeholders to become part of this transformation. Adopting baseline standards such as location code standards is a mandatory step in establishing an interoperable digital foundation which will simplify current complexities,” he said.

“Ultimately, customers, stakeholders and the entire industry will benefit.”

While all the participating carriers are in the process of adopting the codes, MSC said it is the first to achieve full implementation throughout all company systems globally.