A.P. Moller – Maersk has announced that it will be joining CMA CGM and MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) as a key shareholder and customer of Traxens, a developer of ‘smart’ container monitoring and coordination systems.
CMA CGM first invested in the start-up in 2012 and was joined in 2016 by MSC. This new agreement will see Maersk make an investment in Traxens which will grant similar shareholder rights to its fellow container lines.
Last week, CMA CGM confirmed that it had ordered 50,000 Traxens devices to deploy on its containers, while MSC had previously committed to equipping 50,000 dry cargo containers with the technology in late 2018. Maersk has now also committed to ordering up to 50,000 Traxens devices for use in its own operations.
This show of support from major container lines will boost Traxens’ efforts to drive interoperability in container data platforms, based on the use of non-proprietary technologies and open standards.
“Creating visibility into the condition and location of containerised cargo is bringing Maersk’s strategy to offer digital end-to-end solutions to life,” said Ingrid Uppelschoten Snelderwaard, Vice President, Head of Equipment, A.P. Moller – Maersk.
“Having pioneered IoT-technology in our reefer fleet, we are excited to join Traxens and collaborate on the huge potential within connected containers.”
“With this investment we look forward to working with key industry players to advance a leading solution within connected products and technologies for high value cargo, while ensuring customer choice through interoperability and open standards.”
Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM are all founding members of the new Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), which was officially launched in April to encourage collaboration in the development of standards to support interoperability of technology systems in the container shipping industry.
