LR launches LXF Consortium to standardise container stowage data

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has launched a new industry consortium to standardise container stowage and lashing data exchange.

The new Lashing Exchange Format (LXF) Consortium brings together classification societies and software developers to create a common digital standard for container securing calculations.

Today, the industry lacks a unified system for exchanging stowage and lashing data between software platforms and approval systems.

LR said this fragmented process creates duplicated work, inconsistent data and approval delays.

The issue has become more critical as containerships grow larger and container securing systems become more complex.

The new LXF format will allow shipyards, software providers and classification societies to work from the same dataset during the approval process.

LR developed the system using experience gained from its LashRight software platform. However, the company said LXF is designed as an open industry-wide standard.

Most major classification societies and several leading lashing software developers have already joined the consortium.

According to LR, the members represent more than half of the global containership and lashing system market.

“The launch of the LXF consortium reflects growing pressure across the containership sector for smoother and faster approval processes,” said Nick Gross, LR’s Global Containerships Segment Director.

“Standardising data is a critical step in reducing friction and improving efficiency.”

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