What Digital Container Shipping Association does

The Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) is a non-profit, carrier-founded standards organization established in April 2019 and headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its 10 carrier members — MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen, Yang Ming, HMM, ZIM, and PIL (joined April 2024) — collectively represent approximately 75% of global container trade. DCSA's core function is to develop open-source, vendor-neutral, technology-agnostic API standards and data models that enable interoperability across the container shipping ecosystem, addressing fragmented legacy systems, paper-based documentation, and bespoke integrations among carriers, ports, terminals, banks, freight forwarders, cargo owners, solution providers, and insurers.

DCSA's product portfolio consists of nine core API standards organized into three journeys: Shipment Journey (Bill of Lading, Booking, VGM), Vessel Journey (Arrival Notice, Port Call, Operational Vessel Schedules, Commercial Schedules, Load List and Bay Plan), and Across Journey (Track & Trace). Standards are delivered through the DCSA Developer Portal, which provides API specifications, business process models, reference implementations, and downloadable artefacts. Recent product activity includes the Port Call Standard 2.0 launch in January 2026 and ongoing iteration of Booking 2.0, Bill of Lading 3.0, and Just-in-Time Port Call standards. Distribution is hybrid: standards are freely available for self-implementation, while the DCSA+ Partnership Programme offers tiered, fee-based engagement with structured implementation support, early standards access, and collaboration opportunities.

DCSA is funded primarily through annual membership fees paid by the 10 carrier members, supplemented by DCSA+ partnership programme fees (which vary by partner organization type and size). The organization operates with a team of approximately 50 employees, has no external institutional investors or parent company, and is governed by carrier members who vote on budget and project priorities. The organization works with regulatory bodies including the EU Commission, UK Electronic Trade Documents Act, UN/CEFACT, and US FMC, and is a member of the FIT Alliance alongside BIMCO, FIATA, ICC, and SWIFT.

Name

Digital Container Shipping Association

Legal name

Digital Container Shipping Association

Website

https://dcsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) is a non-profit, Amsterdam-based standards body that develops open-source, vendor-neutral APIs and data models for container shipping. Its 10 carrier members represent ~75% of global container trade, and the DCSA+ programme extends adoption to shippers, ports, terminals, banks, and solution providers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Technology Standards

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Documentation & Trade Facilitation (eBL, eDO, eManifest, eGate Pass) (TLAHAOAF)

Keywords

• Container shipping standards
• Shipping API standards
• Electronic bill of lading
• Port call optimization
• Vessel schedule standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: DCSA is a non-profit organization supported by its 10 largest global carrier members through membership fees. Members represent 75% of global container trade.
2. DCSA+ Partnership Programme Fees: Annual fee for the partnership programme providing access to Connect, Accelerate and Contribute features. Fee differs per organization characteristics such as type of industry and size.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) is a non-profit standards organization that develops open-source, vendor-neutral, technology-agnostic API standards and data models for the container shipping industry. Its portfolio covers shipment, vessel, and cross-journey processes including Track & Trace, Bill of Lading, Booking, Port Call, Vessel Schedules, VGM, Arrival Notice, and Load List & Bay Plan. Standards are freely available for adoption and are complemented by the DCSA+ Partnership Programme and a Developer Portal that provides API specifications, reference implementations, and documentation.

Product overview

DCSA (Digital Container Shipping Association) is a non-profit standards organisation creating open, vendor-neutral, technology-agnostic digital standards for the container shipping industry. The portfolio consists of core API-based standards organised across three interconnected journeys: Shipment Journey (Bill of Lading, Booking, VGM), Vessel Journey (Arrival Notice, Port Call, Operational Vessel Schedules, Commercial Schedules, Load List & Bay Plan), and Across Journey (Track & Trace). These standards are complemented by the DCSA+ Partnership Programme for industry collaboration and a Developer Portal providing implementation resources. DCSA represents approximately 75% of global container trade through its 10 carrier members and collaborates with the broader ecosystem including cargo owners, freight forwarders, banks, ports, terminals, solution providers, and insurers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DCSA+: DCSA+ is the partnership programme of the Digital Container Shipping Association, uniting carriers, shippers, freight forwarders, ports, terminals, feeders and technology solution providers to accelerate the adoption of digital standards and build a more seamless, resilient, and efficient supply chain.

Products and services

• DCSA Track & Trace Standard

Quantifiable outcome

• 10% fewer resources needed when using Track & Trace
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DNVcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 June 2026DNV joined DCSA+ integrating its Veracity data platform with industry efforts to standardize trusted data exchange across container shipping. The collaboration addresses challenges in emissions reporting, regulatory compliance, and supply chain coordination, leveraging Veracity's network of thousands of vessels and over 90 data partners.
• WiseTech GlobalcoreTechnology or Integration · 19 May 2026WiseTech Global develops logistics execution and supply chain platforms including CargoWise and e2open, used by 46 of the world's top 50 third-party logistics providers and 23 of the 25 largest global freight forwarders. As an early adopter of DCSA standards since 2019 and major user of DCSA-based carrier APIs, WiseTech contributes operational insight to future standards development.
• HERE TechnologiescoreTechnology or Integration · 15 April 2026HERE Technologies joined DCSA+ as the first mapping and location intelligence partner to advance digital standards in container trade. HERE contributes location data expertise to DCSA's standardization efforts, based in Amsterdam.
• ContshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Contship joined DCSA+ as the first terminal operator partner. Managing multiple container terminals and inland hubs across the Mediterranean and Europe, Contship contributes to aligning terminal processes with global standards including vessel arrival, berth planning, and port call optimization.
• IKEA Supply AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 December 2025IKEA Supply AG joined DCSA+ as the first shipper/cargo owner to participate, adding the cargo owner perspective to the partnership programme. Contributing to collaboration across the value chain and supporting practical, scalable adoption of digital standards in day-to-day operations.
• DSV DB SchenkercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal logistics provider joining DCSA+ to advance digital standards across container shipping operations.
• DP WorldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal port operator joining DCSA+ to contribute to standards development for port operations and logistics.
• Lloyd's RegisterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClassification society and engineering expertise provider joining DCSA+ for standards development.
• Valencia PortminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish port authority joining DCSA+ to contribute port operational expertise to standards development.
• FIT Alliance (BIMCO, FIATA, ICC, SWIFT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIT Alliance unites DCSA, BIMCO, FIATA, ICC and SWIFT behind the mission to standardize the digitalisation of international trade. Working to generate awareness about common data standards and legislative conditions, facilitate eBL acceptance by regulators, banks and insurers.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SWIFT: SWIFT is a member-owned, global financial messaging standards body and a DCSA FIT Alliance partner. It develops messaging and documentation standards (e.g., MT/MX, Bank Payment Obligation) that intersect with DCSA's eBL and trade documentation standards in the trade-finance workflow.
• WiseTech Global: WiseTech Global (CargoWise, e2open) develops logistics execution platforms used by 46 of the top 50 third-party logistics providers. As a DCSA+ partner and major consumer of DCSA APIs, WiseTech is a directly comparable technology ecosystem participant for container shipping digitalization.
• BIMCO: BIMCO is the world's largest international shipping association, providing standard contract templates and digital standards for the maritime industry. As a FIT Alliance partner alongside DCSA, BIMCO is directly comparable as a neutral, member-driven maritime standards body.
• E2open (formerly INTTRA): E2open's ocean shipping platform (built on the legacy INTTRA network connecting carriers and shippers) provides digital booking, tracking, and documentation for container shipping. It is a directly comparable digital infrastructure provider in the same ocean container ecosystem that DCSA standards seek to standardize.
• FIATA: FIATA is the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations, a global non-profit body that develops standards and documentation for freight forwarding. As a FIT Alliance partner, it works jointly with DCSA on digital trade documentation interoperability.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): ICC is the world business organization that creates rules and standards for international trade, including UCP 600 for letters of credit and Incoterms. As a FIT Alliance partner, ICC co-develops digital trade standards with DCSA and is highly relevant for trade-finance interoperability.

Broad incumbents

• GS1: GS1 is the global, non-profit standards organization for supply chain barcodes, identifiers, and data exchange. Like DCSA, it develops open, vendor-neutral standards adopted across industries; its work on supply chain visibility and traceability overlaps with DCSA's track-and-trace mission.
• IATA (International Air Transport Association): IATA is the global airline industry's standards body, operating a comparable neutral, member-funded model that develops data, messaging and documentation standards (e.g., e-freight, ONE Record) for air cargo. It is the closest analog to DCSA in terms of structure and mission, but in aviation rather than ocean shipping.

Emerging players

• CargoSmart: CargoSmart provides a SaaS platform for shipping documentation, vessel schedules, and EDI/API connectivity for ocean carriers and shippers. It is comparable to DCSA's API standards in the same container shipping workflow, but operates as a commercial technology provider rather than a non-profit standards body.

Regional players

• Portbase / Port Community Systems: Portbase is a Port Community System serving the Port of Rotterdam and Amsterdam, providing a single digital platform for port-related data exchange between logistics parties. It is comparable to DCSA's Port Call Standard in function but operates regionally in a single port complex rather than globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dcsa_org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Digital Container Shipping Association