INTTRA, an e-commerce provider for ocean shipping and founder of the Ocean Freight Advisory Board representing the major carriers and forwarders, announced it will expand membership by 25 per cent.

The Ocean Freight Industry EIPP Standards Advisory Board mission is to lead the ocean freight industry towards greater efficiency through automated electronic invoicing and payment.

Member organisations encompasses ocean carriers, 3PL providers, forwarders and NVOCC, Companies that recently joined the advisory board include: Leschaco, Sinotrans, Damco, Ecu Line, Geodis Wilson.

Said Maersk Line's Steen Larsen, a board member: "Our diverse membership is certainly an important and welcome quality that is essential to creating industry solutions that address the needs of the various segments."

Ecu Line CEO Marc Stoffelen said its membership this year supports future electronic presentment and payment standardisation which will benefit his niche market.

"By adopting automated bill presentment and payment, the process will be more accurate, transparent and settlements will be faster and uniform. It provides a better way to analyse payment behaviour and incorrect billing," said Mr Stoffelen.

INTTRA's efforts received a boost last week at the Containerisation International Global Liner Shipping Conference in London when Maersk's chief commercial officer Lucas Vos told delegates of the need to cut administrative costs.

"Invoicing is a complete nightmare" because of all the different charges and surcharges, he said. "We need simple rate structures. Let's rely on companies like INTTRA."

Global ocean freight organisations from North America, Europe, and Asia gather twice a year for general advisory board meetings in addition to working teams that focus on developing specific standards and processes for the industry. The next meeting will be in Copenhagen this week.