Container tracking: find your container in two minutes
To track a container, take the container number — 4 letters + 7 digits, e.g. MSKU1234567, printed on the bill of lading and on the box itself — and enter it on the shipping line's own tracking page (Maersk, MSC, COSCO, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, Evergreen all track free). No account needed. If you only have a booking or B/L number, those work on the same pages.
Where exactly do I track each line?
- Maersk — maersk.com → Tracking
- MSC — msc.com → Track a shipment
- COSCO — elines.coscoshipping.com
- CMA CGM — cmacgm-group.com → eBusiness
- Hapag-Lloyd — hapag-lloyd.com → Online Business
- ONE — one-line.com; Evergreen — shipmentlink.com
Not sure which line carries your box? The carrier is named on the bill of lading; the container prefix (first 4 letters) also identifies the owner. Aggregator sites work too, but the line's own page is the freshest source.
What do the tracking statuses actually mean?
- Empty to shipper / Gate in — container collected, then returned loaded to the origin terminal
- Loaded / Vessel departure — on board; the clock to Jeddah/Dammam starts
- Transshipment — moved to another vessel at a hub (Jebel Ali, Colombo, Singapore); adds days and is normal
- Discharged — off the vessel at the Saudi port; free storage days start counting
- Gate out — released and trucked out after customs clearance
The gap that matters commercially is Discharged → Gate out: that is customs clearance plus port handling. With SABER certificates ready it is 1–3 working days; without them it is storage charges.
Tracking says "discharged" — why hasn't my cargo moved?
The tracker shows the box, not the paperwork. After discharge the release needs: the delivery order from the line, the customs declaration filed in FASAH, ZATCA assessment and payment, and a truck booking. Any of these can be the holdup, and the tracking page will never tell you which. Sanad Global clients get status pushes covering both halves — vessel movements and clearance stages — so "where is my container" has one answer, not two.
Questions importers ask about this
Related guides
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Leave your number. A licensed broker replies within 30 minutes during working hours (Sun–Thu, 9:00–18:00 KSA).
Frequently asked questions
How can I track my container for free?
Enter the container number (4 letters + 7 digits) on the shipping line's tracking page — every major carrier offers free tracking without registration.
What is the container number format?
Four letters (owner code + U) followed by 7 digits, e.g. MSKU1234567. It is on the B/L, the booking confirmation and the container doors.
Can I track a container by B/L number?
Yes — carrier tracking pages accept bill of lading and booking numbers as well; a B/L may cover several containers.
How long between discharge and delivery in Saudi ports?
With documents and SABER certificates ready, customs release typically takes 1–3 working days after discharge, then trucking to your city.
Get a clearance cost estimate
Leave your number. A licensed broker replies within 30 minutes during working hours (Sun–Thu, 9:00–18:00 KSA).