MAERSK Line and multi-carrier sea freight network INTTRA have signed a contract that allows customers of the Danish shipping giant and its units Safmarine, Seago Line and MCC to plug into e-commerce platform.

The 40-carrier member INTTRA platform offers ocean schedules, booking, shipping instructions, bill of lading, tracking and tracing, electronic invoicing and reports.

Maersk and INTTRA have long shared a policy of cutting costs and enhancing efficiency through e-commerce, reports the UK's Transport Intelligence. "As both the market and customers have changed their demands, INTTRA and Maersk Line have evolved e-commerce from an independent IT activity to an essential business solution for more profitable commercial growth," said the report.

Said Maersk Line sales chief Jesper Thomsen: "We have seen first-hand the benefits of integrating technology and business solutions to drive success in the ocean shipping industry. By leveraging INTTRA e-business solutions, we are able to continue to provide more value to our customers and position ourselves for long-term growth."

Said INTTRA chief executive Ken Bloom: "Both our customers are seeking e-business solutions, so by collaborating, we're able to support customer demands for standardised shipping processes and drive additional e-business penetration."

INTTRA, the world's largest multi-carrier network for the ocean shipping, allows shippers to plan, book, manage, and analyse ocean freight shipments with 40 leading carriers and NVOCCs. More than 525,000 container orders a week are initiated on the INTTRA platform.