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Jul 28, 20266 min read· MariMetric Team

How to Track an MSC Container: A Complete Guide

Step-by-step guide to tracking any MSC container in real time. Includes MSCU prefix, common status codes, and what to do when MSC's official site blocks automated access.

MSCContainer TrackingTutorial

MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) is the world's largest container shipping company by capacity, moving millions of containers every year across every major trade lane. Whether you're a freight forwarder, shipper, or just curious about a single shipment, knowing how to track an MSC container is essential.

The MSCU container number format

Every MSC container has a unique 11-character identifier following the ISO 6346 standard: four letters followed by seven digits. MSC-issued containers start with MSCU, so a typical MSC container number looks like MSCU1234567.

How to track an MSC container with MariMetric

  1. 1Enter the 11-character container number (e.g. MSCU1234567) in the search box on MariMetric's homepage.
  2. 2MariMetric automatically detects the MSCU prefix and routes the request to the MSC carrier adapter.
  3. 3You receive real-time status, current location, last reported port, and the full movement history timeline.

What if the official MSC site is blocking access?

MSC's official tracking site uses aggressive anti-bot protection (Akamai bot management) that frequently blocks automated requests, including those from shipping aggregators and developer tools. When this happens, MariMetric will automatically show you a deep link to MSC's official tracking page where you can complete the lookup manually.

Common MSC status codes

  • Gate In: container has entered the terminal for loading
  • Loaded on Vessel: container is on the ship
  • Vessel Departure: the ship has left the origin port
  • Vessel Arrival: the ship has arrived at the destination port
  • Discharged: container is off the ship at destination
  • Gate Out / Delivered: container has left the terminal

Try tracking one now

The fastest way to understand the MSC tracking experience is to try one. Click the MSCU example on the homepage to see the full flow.

Track a container now

Don't just read about it — try container tracking with a real number from MSC, COSCO, ONE, CMA CGM, or HMM.

Track a container now

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