How to find out which Carrier the container belongs to?
Firstly，A container number consists of an 11-character code, with the following breakdown:
⭐Identifying the Shipping Company:
The container’s prefix indicates the owner or operator. For example, containers starting with “CRXU” belong to CRONOS, a container leasing company.
⭐Container Number Composition:
- The first three letters represent the container owner or operator.
- The fourth letter indicates the container type. For instance, containers starting with “CBHU” belong to COSCO Shipping.
⭐Registration Number:
The next six digits serve as the container’s unique registration number, identifying the specific container.
⭐Check Digit:
The 11th digit is a check digit, calculated through a verification algorithm based on the preceding four letters and six numbers. It helps detect input errors.
Common Shipping Company Codes:
Maersk: “MSK”
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC): “MSC”
COSCO Shipping: “COSCO” or “CSC”
CMA CGM: “CMA” or “CGMU”
Hapag-Lloyd: “HLXU” or “HLCU”
Evergreen Marine: “EISU” or “EGHU”
Yang Ming Marine Transport: “YMLU” or “YMNU”
HMM (Hyundai Merchant Marine): “HDMU” or “HMMU”
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services: “ZIMU” or “ZCSU”
PIL (Pacific International Lines): “PCIU” or “PILU”
Wan Hai Lines: “WHLU”
OOCL (Orient Overseas Container Line): “OOLU”
These company codes, typically composed of letters, represent specific shipping lines. Container numbers also include type codes and serial numbers, using a combination of letters and digits. For example, a Maersk container number might start with “MSKU,” followed by the serial number, while an MSC container might start with “MSCU.”
There are two main types of ownership of containers:
Carrier-Owned & Shipper-Owned Containers
- Carrier-Owned Containers (COC):
In most cases, containers are owned by shipping companies, known as Carrier-Owned Containers (COC). These containers are fully owned by the shipping line. Major carriers like Maersk, COSCO Shipping, and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) own large fleets of COC containers to support their global services. - Shipper-Owned Containers (SOC):
Some cargo owners, shippers, or freight forwarders may purchase their own containers for cargo transport, referred to as Shipper-Owned Containers (SOC). In this case, ownership of the container belongs to the shipper, who then arranges transportation through a shipping company.
Container Fleets of Major Shipping Companies
Maersk: One of the world’s largest shipping companies, Maersk owns a vast fleet of COC containers used for global transport services.
COSCO Shipping: The largest shipping company in China, COSCO Shipping owns and operates nearly 800 modern vessels, with an annual cargo volume exceeding 400 million tons. Its global routes cover over 160 countries and regions.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC): A global leader in container shipping, MSC owns a significant number of COC containers and offers comprehensive ocean freight and logistics solutions worldwide.
These companies operate extensive fleets and networks, providing essential logistical support for global trade.
