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Container Tracking

Enter a container number or Bill of Lading to get live status across carriers

Hapag-Lloyd · MSC · Maersk · CMA CGM Group · COSCO · Yang Ming · ONE · ZIM · Enter container number or B/L

How to Track Your Shipment

  1. Enter your reference — paste your container number (ISO 6346 format, e.g. MSKU1234567) or Bill of Lading number into the search field above.
  2. Let Shipzy identify the carrier — Shipzy automatically queries supported carriers and returns the first match. No manual carrier selection needed.
  3. Review your results — the timeline shows every reported event from gate-in to delivery, with actual (ACT), estimated (EST), and planned (PLN) classifications. The route map shows ports of loading, transshipment, and discharge.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Bill of Lading (B/L) number?
A Bill of Lading is the primary shipping document issued by the carrier. The B/L number — usually 9–20 characters — is your tracking reference. It appears on shipping instructions, arrival notices, and customs documents. Example formats: MAEU123456789 (Maersk), HLCUHAM1234567 (Hapag-Lloyd), MSCU1234567 (MSC).
How long does ocean freight take from China to Europe?
The average Shanghai–Rotterdam (CNSHA–NLRTM) transit is 28–35 days. Direct services are faster than multi-port rotations. Transshipment at Singapore, Port Klang, or Port Said (Suez Gateway) can add 3–7 days. The Suez Canal shortcut saves approximately 7,000 nautical miles vs. rounding the Cape of Good Hope.
What do ACT, EST, and PLN mean in tracking events?
These are DCSA event classifiers: ACT (Actual) means the event has occurred and been confirmed; EST (Estimated) is the carrier's current forecast; PLN (Planned) is the original scheduled time. Tracking quality is highest for ACT events.
Which carriers does Shipzy support?
Shipzy supports Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), COSCO, Yang Ming, ZIM, ONE (Ocean Network Express), and the CMA CGM Group (CMA CGM, APL, ANL, CNC, Containerships, and Mercosul Line) — with more carriers added regularly as coverage expands. For Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk country office contacts, see the Germany freight forwarders and China freight forwarders pages.
Why is my container showing no results?
Common causes: (1) typo in the reference number — container numbers follow ISO 6346 with a check digit; (2) the shipment was booked <24–48 hours ago and is not yet in the carrier system; (3) the carrier is outside Shipzy's current coverage; (4) carrier API is temporarily unavailable (check the status indicator).
What is a UN/LOCODE?
A UN/LOCODE is a 5-character code identifying a port, city, or transport node (e.g., DEHAM = Hamburg, CNSHA = Shanghai, NLRTM = Rotterdam). The first two characters are the ISO country code; the last three identify the location. DCSA tracking events use UN/LOCODEs to identify where each event occurred.
What customs documents are needed for EU import?
Standard EU import documentation includes: the original Bill of Lading (or Sea Waybill), commercial invoice, packing list, and customs entry (SAD — Single Administrative Document). For regulated goods (food, chemicals, dual-use), additional licences or certificates may be required. A destination freight forwarder handles this on your behalf.

Supported Carriers

Shipzy currently supports real-time tracking for the following ocean carriers. Each uses DCSA-compatible API endpoints to report container events.

  • Hapag-Lloyd — world's 5th largest carrier by TEU capacity; hub at Hamburg, DEHAM
  • Maersk — Danish carrier operating 700+ vessels; largest container shipping company by revenue
  • MSC — Mediterranean Shipping Company; world's largest carrier by fleet capacity as of 2023
  • Yang Ming — Taiwan-based; member of THE Alliance
  • ZIM — Israeli carrier; operates premium niche services on key lanes
  • ONE (Ocean Network Express) — formed from the merger of MOL, NYK, and K Line; Japanese
  • CMA CGM Group — French; world's 3rd largest carrier by TEU capacity; covers CMA CGM, APL, ANL, CNC, Containerships, and Mercosul Line under one tracking integration

Together, these carriers operate scheduled services on the major trade lanes: Asia–Europe (AEX), Transpacific (TPEB/TPWB), Transatlantic (TAL), and Intra-Asia. Alliance membership — Gemini Cooperation (Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd), Premier Alliance (Yang Ming, ONE, HMM), Ocean Alliance (CMA CGM Group, COSCO, Evergreen, OOCL) — influences which vessels share a rotation, and therefore which transshipment hubs a container may pass through. Global container trade volume reached approximately 850 million TEUs in 2024 (UNCTAD, 2025).

Need a freight forwarder at the destination? Find rated, benchmarked agents on the Germany, China, and Netherlands forwarder pages.