Against the backdrop of continuous digitalization and environmental regulations in shipping, Vessel Chain Alpha has been officially launched, providing a new safe, transparent, and verifiable path for marine fuel certification. As a blockchain-based bunkering certification platform, Vessel Chain is committed to solving core issues such as document forgery, information inconsistency, and traceability difficulties. The Alpha version is now open through a private testing plan, running on the stable and reliable Ignis Blockchain, laying a solid foundation for compliance management in the shipping industry.
Why Must Shipping Fuel Certification Be Digitalized?
With the Mediterranean Sulfur Emission Control Area (ECA) officially implemented, all vessels operating in the region must comply with stricter fuel sulfur content standards. Traditional certification processes rely on paper documents, email transmission, and manual review, which are not only inefficient but also prone to loopholes and information inconsistencies. More seriously, fuel invoice forgery is common globally.
Vessel Chain provides a digital solution: uploading bunkering invoices and metadata to the chain, where all information becomes immutable once submitted, and can be publicly verified for source and transaction records. The platform ensures "trust" through tamper-proof data records and on-chain audit capabilities, rather than relying on interpersonal and paper-based processes.
What Are the Core Functions of the Alpha Version?
The platform currently has a complete certification infrastructure framework, with main functions including:
- Support for uploading PDF-format bunkering invoices;
- Automatic generation of SHA-256 hash to ensure file consistency;
- One-click data submission to Ignis blockchain testnet;
- Real-time display of on-chain transaction status and confirmation information;
- Multi-role access control with clear permissions and operational security.
The platform provides dedicated interfaces for different user types, including shipowners, suppliers, and review parties (such as classification societies or regulatory departments), where each party only needs to complete their respective work within their operational interface, with data being chained and recorded throughout the process.
Technical Support: Ignis Blockchain
Vessel Chain chose Ignis as its underlying architecture due to its mature capabilities in data attestation, permission control, and smart contracts. Ignis is a public chain developed by the Jelurida team, supporting lightweight contracts, auditable transaction records, and encrypted communication, making it highly suitable for industry scenarios requiring "trustworthy records".
Vessel Chain fully utilizes the following advantages of Ignis:
- Data Immutability: Once uploaded, it cannot be modified;
- Public Auditability: All invoice data can be verified on-chain;
- Privacy Protection: Sensitive information supports encrypted storage and transmission;
- Extensibility: Future automated compliance logic can be added
Currently, all platform test data is deployed on Ignis's test chain, allowing users to experience the complete certification process in a simulated environment.
A Tailor-Made Solution for the Shipping Industry
Vessel Chain is not a generic blockchain tool, but a certification system specifically designed for marine fuel supply chain scenarios. Whether shipowners need to obtain reliable bunkering documents, suppliers need to provide invoices that can withstand scrutiny, or regulatory agencies need to verify compliance, the platform offers an efficient, credible, and transparent operational path.
Conclusion: Building a Credible Compliance Ecosystem
Vessel Chain Alpha is paving a transparent and secure compliance path for the shipping industry. It not only reduces manual operations and fraud risks but also reconstructs the certification trust mechanism through blockchain technology. As global shipping gradually moves towards digitalization and intelligence, this platform will undoubtedly become an important infrastructure in the industry.
