Container & vessel tracking
Enter a container number or bill of lading (B/L) — we auto-detect the carrier and take you to the right tracking portal, with ePorts for major Vietnamese ports.
Vessel position
See vessel position & voyage
Enter a vessel name (e.g. EVER ORIENT) — or an IMO/MMSI if you have one — to see its position right here. If live data isn't available, we open Flexport Atlas for you.
Position data from AIS sources — indicative and may be interrupted mid-ocean. Base map: OpenStreetMap.
Vietnamese port ePorts
Look up in-yard container position at the port's own portal.
Carrier detection
Which carrier owns the container? Look at the first 4 letters
The first 4 letters of a container number (the owner code) reveal which carrier manages it. Avenir auto-detects the prefix and takes you to that carrier's tracking portal.
Reading a container number
The 11-character ISO 6346 container number
Every container has a unique 11-character identifier under the ISO 6346 standard: 4 letters, a 6-digit serial and 1 check digit. Understanding it helps you spot the carrier and catch typos instantly.
Example: a Maersk container
MSKU · Owner code
4 letters: the first 3 are the carrier code (MSK = Maersk); the 4th is the equipment category — U for a freight container.
305438 · Serial
6 digits assigned by the carrier, uniquely identifying each container in its fleet.
8 · Check digit
Computed from the first 10 characters per ISO 6346. A mismatch means the number was mistyped.
Container or bill of lading?
A container number identifies one physical box; a bill of lading (B/L) is a document number for the whole shipment and may cover several containers. If a container number returns nothing, try the B/L number.
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about tracking a container
What is a container number? How to read it per ISO 6346?
A container number has 11 characters per ISO 6346: 4 letters (the first 3 are the owner code, the 4th is the equipment category — usually U), a 6-digit serial, and 1 check digit. Example MSKU3054388: MSK = Maersk, U = freight container, 305438 = serial, 8 = check digit.
How does a bill of lading (B/L) differ from a container number?
A container number identifies one physical container. A bill of lading (B/L) is a document number issued by the carrier or forwarder for the whole shipment — one B/L may cover several containers. A B/L usually gives a fuller view of the shipment's journey.
How do I know which carrier owns a container?
From the first 4 letters (owner code). For example MSKU/MRKU is Maersk, MSCU/MEDU is MSC, CMAU/CGMU is CMA CGM, COSU is COSCO, HLXU is Hapag-Lloyd, ONEU is ONE, EGHU is Evergreen. Avenir auto-detects the prefix and takes you to the right portal.
How is the check digit computed?
The check digit is computed from the first 10 characters per ISO 6346: each letter maps to a number, multiplied by a power-of-two weight by position, summed, then taken modulo 11 (if the remainder is 10, the check digit is 0). If it doesn't match, the number was most likely mistyped.
Should I check the carrier portal or the port ePort?
The carrier portal shows transport status — loaded on vessel, departed, at sea or discharged at destination. The port ePort shows the container's position in the yard once it has arrived in Vietnam, plus the clearance status needed to issue a delivery order. Use the carrier portal to follow the journey, the ePort once the container has berthed.
What do ETA, ETD, ATA, ATD mean?
ETD (Estimated Time of Departure) — when the vessel is expected to leave; ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival) — when it is expected to arrive at destination; ATD/ATA are the actual departure/arrival times. ETA and ETD can change with the vessel schedule, while ATA/ATD are events that have already happened.
Why does my container number return no result?
Usually because: the number was mistyped (check the check digit), the wrong carrier portal was used, data isn't updated yet for a newly booked or just-changed container, or the shipment moves via a forwarder so you need the forwarder's B/L number. If it still fails, try the destination port's ePort or contact Avenir.
Does Avenir store my lookups?
No. The tool only identifies the carrier from the number you enter and takes you to the carrier's or port's official tracking portal. Avenir does not store container numbers, bill-of-lading numbers or lookup results. Shipment status is provided by carriers and ports.
Track in the right place
Where do you actually track a container?
Carrier portal — the shipment journey
The carrier's tracking portal shows transport status: loaded on vessel, departed, at sea or discharged at destination — with the vessel's ETD/ETA milestones.
Port ePort — position in the yard
The port ePort shows the container's exact position in the yard once it has arrived in Vietnam, plus the clearance status needed to issue a delivery order. Use the ePort once the container has berthed.
Need help tracking a shipment?
Avenir is a tech-enabled customs broker. We handle the hard part.
The free tool is great for a quick check. For high-value shipments, many containers or problems at the port — Avenir's team tracks your shipment end to end, handles clearance and works directly with the carrier and port on your behalf.
Avenir does not store your lookups. Shipment status is provided by carriers and ports — it is indicative and should be checked against original documents before filing.