BIMCO, the world’s largest international shipping association, and Hunit, a leading provider of self-performing contract technology, have launched a joint pilot project aimed at reducing risks, cutting manual workloads, and modernising the maritime industry’s approach to standard contracts.
The initiative comes as shipping companies face mounting operational pressures due to evolving sanctions regimes, stricter safety and emissions rules, insurer requirements for greater transparency, and more frequent inspections. Despite this complexity, much of the industry still relies on PDFs, emails, and spreadsheets—systems that are cumbersome, prone to error, and inefficient.
Under the pilot, Hunit’s agentic contract technology and distributed network will be integrated into BIMCO’s widely used library of standard maritime agreements. This will enable contracts to function as self-managing agents, automating critical processes and ensuring compliance with agreed terms.
Turning Contracts Into Operational Systems
The project aims to address real-world challenges. For instance, when a vessel approaches a BMP5 piracy corridor or prepares for a Port State inspection, ship staff currently have to juggle multiple systems to confirm approvals, insurance coverage, and payments. The new self-performing contract system would automate these checks, obtain necessary approvals, trigger sanctions and insurance verifications, and ensure payments are properly prepared and released only when authorised. All actions will be logged with audit-grade transparency.
Grant Hunter, Chief Digital Officer at BIMCO, said the initiative reflects a major shift in how maritime contracts are used.
“With Hunit’s technology, we are exploring how contracts can become fully operational systems, not just passive documents,” he noted. “This pilot project supports the development of a resilient, digitally enabled maritime industry and responds to the changing demands of today’s business environment.”
Contracts will continue to be negotiated via BIMCO’s SmartCon platform, after which Hunit’s technology will convert them into self-executing systems enriched with structured data, embedded business logic, and AI-enhanced workflows.
Hunit CEO Aaron Powers said the collaboration marks a significant leap in maritime digitalisation.
“The pilot represents a tangible step in transforming the static legal agreements that underpin the maritime sector into active commercial infrastructure,” Powers said. “By partnering with BIMCO, we are enabling contracts that know and execute upon what must happen, when and by whom—leading to fewer manual processes, clearer accountability and more predictable outcomes in maritime trade.”
The pilot is expected to demonstrate how aligning operational and contractual layers can unlock new efficiencies and reduce risk across global shipping operations.
