Container Number Carrier Lookup
Type any container number and instantly see which shipping line or lessor owns it — with a direct tracking link.
The first 4 characters (owner code + 'U') identify the registered owner under ISO 6346 / BIC. Leased boxes show the lessor's code but are tracked on the OPERATING carrier's site using your B/L.
Type a code to identify it.
Sources & references
- BIC — Bureau International des Containers, official code register
- ISO 6346 — Freight containers: coding, identification and marking
This tool runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is uploaded. Information is provided for operational convenience; verify regulated or contractual matters against the official source.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Found a container number on an invoice, a gate pass, a CCTV frame or the side of a box — and need to know whose it is? The first four characters answer it: three letters identify the registered owner (the BIC owner code under ISO 6346), and the fourth — almost always 'U' — marks it as a freight container. MSKU is Maersk, MSCU is MSC, HLCU is Hapag-Lloyd. This lookup decodes the code as you type and links straight to the right tracking page.
About Container Number Carrier Lookup
The twist most people hit: roughly half the world's boxes belong to leasing companies, not carriers. A TRLU or TGHU prefix means Triton or Textainer OWNS the steel — but a lessor can't tell you where your cargo is. Leased equipment is tracked on the OPERATING carrier's site (the line on your bill of lading) using the container or B/L number; this tool tells you when you're holding a lessor code so you don't chase the wrong website. Owner codes are registered with the BIC (Bureau International des Containers) in Paris, which maintains the authoritative global register. This lookup covers the major carrier and lessor codes you'll meet in practice — for an exotic prefix, the BIC's public search is the definitive source, and your B/L is always the operational answer.
How to use Container Number Carrier Lookup
- 1Type or paste the code — matching starts from the first few characters.
- 2The longest matching prefix wins, so the most specific identification is shown.
- 3Read the result card for the owner/meaning and any practical notes.
- 4Use the official-site link to continue (e.g., track the unit on the owner's page).
Why use Container Number Carrier Lookup?
- ✓Instant identification as you type — no database queries, no waiting
- ✓Longest-prefix matching picks the most specific answer
- ✓Direct links to the official source for the next step
- ✓Free and private — the code never leaves your browser
Frequently asked questions
What do the four letters at the start of a container number mean?+
The first three letters are the owner code registered with the BIC; the fourth is the equipment category — 'U' for freight containers (J for detachable equipment, Z for trailers/chassis). MAEU = Maersk freight container, MSCU = MSC, TRLU = Triton (a lessor). Six digits and a check digit complete the ISO 6346 number.
The prefix is a leasing company — how do I track my cargo?+
On the operating carrier's website, not the lessor's. Leasing companies own and finance boxes; carriers operate them. Your bill of lading or booking confirmation names the carrier — enter the container OR B/L number on that line's tracking page. The lessor prefix only matters for equipment interchange and damage billing, not cargo visibility.
Why do some carriers have many different prefixes?+
Fleets accumulate codes through history: mergers (Hapag-Lloyd carries UASC's UACU; Maersk carries Hamburg Süd's SUDU), legacy brands (ONE operates NYK/MOL/K Line-coded boxes), and multiple registrations per company. All of a carrier's codes track on the same portal — which is why this lookup maps each code to its current operator, not just its historical owner.
My prefix isn't found here — what next?+
It's likely a smaller regional operator, a specialised lessor, or a shipper-owned (SOC) box. The BIC's public register (bic-code.org) is the authoritative lookup for any registered code. Operationally, your B/L remains the answer: the carrier named there can trace any container moving under its bookings, whoever owns the steel.
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