Method for the handling of a freight container

A method for the handling of a freight container that is transported from a sender via one or more carriers to a recipient, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) a sender providing a freight container, and preparing a transport plan for the freight container and storing the transport plan on a central administration server, wherein the transport plan lists at least the sender, one or more carriers and a recipient of the freight container;
• b) preparing an encrypted electronic bill of lading using a secured generator module, wherein the encrypted electronic bill of lading can only be fully decrypted through the joint use of a first key and a second key, and wherein parts of the encrypted electronic bill of lading can be decrypted without the two keys;
• c) transmitting the encrypted electronic bill of lading to a central secure server and storing the encrypted electronic bill of lading on that central secure server, and transmitting the first key to the sender of the freight container and transmitting the second key to the recipient of the freight container;
• d) transporting the freight container via one or more carriers to the recipient, wherein:
• each carrier authenticating against the central administration server and requesting a decrypted part of the bill of lading from the central secure server;
• and if a check of the central administration server shows that the carrier is envisaged in the stored transport plan of the freight container then transmitting a decrypted part of the bill of lading to the carrier, by means of which the carrier can demonstrate that he is authorized to further transport the freight container;
• e) the recipient checking the freight container, and if the recipient decides to accept it then the recipient authenticating against the central administration server and transmitting the second key to the central secure server;
• f) if the sender decides to release the freight container for the recipient then the sender authenticating against the central administration server and transmitting the first key to the central secure server;
• g) after the second key in step e) and the first key in step f) have been transmitted to the central secure server, decrypting the encrypted electronic bill of lading stored on the central secure server completely by means of those keys, and transmitting the completely decrypted electronic bill of lading to the recipient of the freight container, by means of which the recipient can demonstrate his entitlement to take possession of the contents of the freight container.