Philadelphia - Holt Logistics Corporation announced today that it has become the first independent port operator in the northeastern United States to conduct a pilot based on a blockchain-based global trade digitization solution developed by Maersk and IBM. The solution is designed to provide transparency and promote the sharing of information within the global trade ecosystem, which in turn can reduce costs, improve productivity and speed the delivery of goods shipped around the world.

The focus is the development of a highly secure digital ledger system using IBM Blockchain technology that will allow users of the network to transparently share information and updates about cargo as it moves around the world.  As a result, the technology can reduce the need for multiple records that currently are produced at each point in the shipping chain.  The new technology can to save as much as 20 percent of the cost of shipping transactions when the system is fully developed.

Holt Logistics and its affiliated company, Greenwich Terminals LLC, operate the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia.

“The investment in the blockchain platform, albeit different from recent hard asset investments like the crane purchases and facility enhancements, is another investment in the future of the Port of Philadelphia, designed to reduce costs and significantly improve the Port’s ability to add value to the customer,” said Thomas J. Holt III, Business Development Manager for Holt Logistics.  “Our industry generates enormous amounts of paper work and data. We believe that blockchain technology will increase both information velocity and validity throughout the supply chain, unlocking billions of dollars in value for stakeholders each year. We are delighted to be a first mover with Maersk and IBM in adopting this technology platform here in the Ports of Philadelphia.  This technology represents the future of our industry, and we are pleased to be a leader in putting it to work for our customers.”

“We welcome Holt as an early adopter to our new platform, which we believe will bring efficiencies and improvements to all participants through digitized solutions backed by blockchain and other innovative technologies,” said Michael J. White, who heads the initiative for Maersk and will serve as CEO of the new joint venture.