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Douglas Owen
Douglas Owen has been appointed Secretary General of the Bureau International des Containers (BIC) following almost four years of service at the organization.
With more than 20 years of experience in the maritime transportation industry, Douglas Owen joined the BIC as Deputy Secretary General in late 2012. He has helped to broaden the horizons of the 83-year-old organization which promotes safety, security, sustainability and efficiency in container transportation.
Since joining, he has launched a number of new initiatives and increased interaction with members and partner associations. Using his wide experience of innovative data and software solutions for container fleet management, he most recently led the launch of the BoxTech Technical Characteristics Database (TCD). The organization’s newest endeavor, the BoxTech TCD is a non-profit platform for the sharing of container technical details.
“In my new role I will ensure that the BIC’s important work in the area of safety, security and sustainability is continued,” says Douglas Owen. “The organization will also aim to engage more actively with members and industry partners as we look to provide them with maximum value while benefitting the industry as a whole.”
Owen’s promotion took effect on October 1st 2016 following the retirement of Bertrand Geoffray after 9 years with the BIC. However, Geoffray will continue to work with the organization on special projects.
Founded in 1933 as a neutral, non-profit organization under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce, the BIC today has over 2100 members in 120 countries. It continues to play an important role in containerized transportation, with its long-established and active role in the development of industry standards, its position as the industry’s global container prefix registry and the multiple databases it operates on behalf of the industry.
For more information about the BIC, visit www.bic-code.org.
For more information on the Boxtech Technical Characteristics Database visit www.bic-boxtech.org and view the FAQs.
About the BIC
Founded under the auspices of the International Chamber of Commerce in 1933 as a neutral, non-profit, international organization, the BIC today has over 2100 members in 120 countries. The BIC has long played an important role in containerized transportation, with its long-established and active role in the development of industry standards and its appointment by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1972 as the industry’s global container prefix registry – a registry further endorsed by international customs conventions. Since 2013 the BIC has also operated the Global ACEP Database under the guidance of the IMO and in 2016 the BIC launched the BoxTech Technical Characteristics Database – a non-profit platform for container technical details built to promote safety and efficiency in the industry.
Today, the BIC code is the “international calling card” of nearly every container in international trade, allowing for proper identification and facilitating the crossing of borders without delay. With a mission to promote safety, security and sustainability in container transportation, the BIC enables professional dialogue amongst its members, standards bodies, governments and other industry organizations. The BIC holds official observer status as a NGO at both the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the World Customs Organization (WCO), and contributes regularly as an observer to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and other organizations.
