Quantum-Sealed Bills of Lading: EU–UK–Singapore Pilot Secures Shipping Documents in Mid-July 2023

In mid-July 2023, the International Chamber of Commerce UK and its Centre for Digital Trade and Innovation (C4DTI), supported by Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), announced a groundbreaking pilot: the world’s first quantum-secure electronic Bill of Lading (eBL) issued across borders between the UK and Singapore.

Using Arqit’s quantum-safe symmetric key agreement and “quantum notary” technology, the pilot sealed electronic trade documents, making them safe from both current and future quantum cyberattacks. This marked shipping’s first fully quantum-backed digital documentation and highlighted the logistics sector’s path to quantum readiness.

The pilot involved shipping building materials from the UK to Singapore via ocean freight. The interoperability framework featured electronic trade documents issued alongside traditional paper versions, Arqit’s quantum-resistant digital seal safeguarding authenticity, blockchain anchoring via Kadena and NFT minting by DNA Ltd, and IoT sensors monitoring shipment conditions such as temperature and tampering. These sensors minted tamper-resistant records on the blockchain. UK and Singapore legal frameworks based on the UN’s Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) recognized the validity of the digital trade documents, creating a fully quantum-secured logistics chain.

Bills of Lading underpin roughly $14 trillion in global trade annually, making secure, authenticated transport records vital for preventing fraud, supporting customs clearance, and defending against quantum-enabled cyberthreats. This pilot demonstrates that quantum-safe tools can be integrated into real-world logistics workflows, laying the foundation for cross-border standardization.

The consortium’s key contributors included ICC C4DTI and IMDA coordinating execution, Arqit providing quantum-sealing encryption, DNA Ltd building NFT-tracking architecture, Kadena supplying blockchain infrastructure, and Imperial College’s AESE Lab supporting secure IoT integration. Legal compliance under MLETR was verified by specialist teams, showcasing how public and private logistics actors can collaborate on quantum logistics infrastructure despite regulatory differences.

Arqit’s symmetric key cryptography is designed to resist quantum attacks, providing secure, perpetual notary services. The blockchain seal creates immutable timestamps and document hashes, enabling verifiable audit trails. IoT sensors capture shipment data, cryptographically signed and securely recorded. Legal adherence to frameworks like MLETR ensures that electronic trade documents are valid and enforceable across borders.

This pilot aligns with broader European initiatives such as EuroQCI, building quantum key distribution networks, and EU-wide post-quantum cryptography adoption. The inclusion of the UK and Singapore demonstrates the international scope of quantum logistics security.

Logistics leaders should note that quantum-safe technologies are deployable now, not just in labs. This pilot proves how IoT, blockchain, and quantum cryptography interlock securely, and how standards like MLETR enable legal acceptance of quantum-secured digital trade records. Governments are monitoring these developments closely, as they may influence future regulatory frameworks.

Following the pilot, plans include expanding document types to customs and health certificates, broader deployment across trade corridors, hardware scaling for embedding digital seals, and standardization efforts with trade bodies and tech alliances. These steps point toward industry-wide adoption of quantum-secure logistics documentation within 24 months.

The July 2023 quantum-secure eBL pilot marks a pivotal moment: quantum logistics is no longer just about optimization but about security. By combining post-quantum cryptography, IoT sensor integrity, blockchain notarization, and legal acceptance, the logistics sector is taking its first concrete Quantum Step™ toward safer, smarter, and legally secure global supply chains. Logistics providers, carriers, customs authorities, and shippers are encouraged to future-proof documentation and prepare for a quantum-secure future.