“K” LINE PIONEERS ONLINE FREIGHT PAYMENT

“K” LINE PIONEERS ONLINE FREIGHT PAYMENT

“K” LINE PIONEERS ONLINE FREIGHT PAYMENT

   Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. will introduce in September an automated freight payment and bill of lading issuance service for its container shipping customers in Japan.
   The system, to be extended to other regions, allows shippers to settle payments and receive bills of lading on-line. The shippers can print the B/Ls at their offices.
   The combined freight payment and Internet B/L service is believed to be an industry first. Other carriers have introduced on-line B/Ls, but have stopped short of offering on-line payments because of security concerns. The back-end payment system was developed jointly with The Dai-ichi Kangyo Bank Ltd. and relies on inter-bank transfers.
   To settle freight payment on-line, a customer must use “K” Line’s web site and confirm the total freight amount and bank account details. The carrier issues a payment receipt number. Then “K” Line relays the information to Dai-ichi Kangyo Bank, for the bank to arrange the inter-bank payment. Once “K” Line has received notification of the payment from the bank, it authorizes the issuance and printing of the B/L.
   The “One-click Freight Payment” service offers clients a “very convenient and efficient settlement tool for ocean freight without paperwork or a visit to a carrier’s office to pick B/Ls up,” a spokesman for “K” Line said.
   The Japanese carrier will start the service for export shippers out of Japan and gradually extend to coverage of import and other services.
   “K” Line plans to link this service with the Bolero.net international trade document communication system. “K” Line joined Bolero.net in April.