The Last Dinosaur - Maritime Shipping In the Digital Age

Title: Episode 81 Unlocking the Future of Maritime Trade: Digital Bills of Lading with Piotr Cichocki of Secro Inc.

Guest: Piotr Cichocki, Managing Director – Europe, Secro Inc.

Episode Overview: In this episode of The Last Dinosaur: Maritime Shipping in the Digital Age, I sit down with Piotr Cichocki, Managing Director – Europe for Secro Inc., a company at the forefront of revolutionizing global trade through digital innovation. Piotr brings over 30 years of experience in the maritime industry, including significant contributions to the BIMCO documentary committee. Our conversation dives deep into the world of electronic bills of lading (eBLs) and how Secro is leading the charge in transforming this critical aspect of maritime trade.

Piotr shares his journey and insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by digitalizing the BL process. We discuss the implications of tokenization, changes in the law allowing for the recognition of digital securities, and the future of maritime trade in a more interconnected and technologically advanced world.

Key Points:

1. Piotr Cichocki’s Background: Over 30 years in the maritime industry with key roles in ship ownership and management, and significant contributions to BIMCO's documentary committee.
2. Secro’s Vision: Secro aims to enable frictionless global trade through their next-generation electronic bill of lading platform, enhancing real-time and secure collaboration in cross-border commodity trade.
3. The Evolution of BLs: Piotr discusses his realization that BLs, while functional, have room for improvement, particularly in reducing fraud and increasing efficiency.
4. The Role of Tokenization: How tokenization and changes in law are paving the way for BLs to be recognized as digital securities, offering new opportunities for collateralization and reduced costs in maritime trade.
5. Blockchain Technology in Maritime: Exploring the shift of blockchain from cryptocurrency to creating digital ledgers and tokens for secure, efficient maritime documentation.
6. Global Legal Changes: Discussion of the 2016 UN law and its implications for digital transactions, with early adoption seen in Singapore and the UK, and how this could transform international trade.
7. The Future of Maritime Trade: The potential for electronic BLs to make maritime trade more attractive and secure, with a focus on reducing costs and increasing transparency.

Closing Remarks: If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, follow, share, and review the podcast. Your support helps us continue to bring insightful conversations like this one to you. Thank you for listening!