Knowing how to track a container shipment helps importers monitor cargo from the moment it leaves the supplier until it reaches the destination port. For Nigerian importers, container tracking can be especially useful when buying goods from China, Dubai, the UK, the United States or other international markets.
Most ocean shipments can be tracked using a container number, Bill of Lading number or booking reference. Shipping lines such as Maersk provide tracking using container and Bill of Lading numbers and show shipment milestones and estimated arrival information.
Find Your Container Number
The easiest way to start tracking is usually with the container number.
A standard container number consists of four letters followed by seven digits, such as MSCU1234567. The number is normally printed on the container and included in shipping documents provided by the carrier or freight forwarder.
Your freight forwarder should provide the container number once your cargo has been allocated to a container.
Find Your Bill of Lading Number
If you do not have the container number, you may be able to track the shipment using the Bill of Lading.
A Bill of Lading is a shipping document that identifies the cargo and transportation arrangement. One Bill of Lading can cover multiple containers, so tracking by B/L can provide information about the wider consignment rather than one physical container.
For LCL shipments, the Bill of Lading can be particularly useful because several importers may share the same physical container.
Identify the Shipping Line
Next, find out which shipping line is carrying the cargo.
The carrier should be shown on your Bill of Lading or booking confirmation. Major ocean carriers have their own tracking systems, so knowing the carrier helps you use the correct tracking page.
If you are unsure which carrier is handling the shipment, ask your freight forwarder for the carrier name and the correct tracking reference.
Track the Container on the Carrier’s Website
Once you have the container number and carrier, visit the shipping line’s official tracking page.
Enter the container number, booking reference or Bill of Lading number accepted by that carrier. The tracking system may show information such as:
- Container status
- Vessel name
- Port of loading
- Transshipment location
- Port of discharge
- Estimated arrival date
- Loading and discharge milestones
For example, Maersk’s tracking system allows users to search using container or Bill of Lading information and view shipment milestones and estimated arrival times.
Use a Multi-Carrier Tracking Platform
If you do not know the shipping line or are tracking several shipments with different carriers, a multi-carrier container tracking platform can be useful.
These platforms can accept a container number or Bill of Lading and identify the relevant carrier. However, the operating shipping line remains an important source for the official shipment events.
For Nigerian shipments, some logistics and shipping agencies also provide container tracking tools that accept a container number or Bill of Lading number.
Understand Container Tracking Statuses
Tracking a container is more useful when you understand what the status means.
Booking confirmed: Space has been reserved for the shipment.
Gate-in: The container has entered the origin terminal.
Loaded on vessel: The container has been loaded onto the ship.
Vessel departed: The ship has left the origin port.
Transshipment: The container is being transferred through another port.
Arrived: The vessel has reached the destination port.
Discharged: The container has been removed from the vessel.
Available for pickup: The cargo is available for the next stage, subject to the applicable clearance and release requirements.
The exact terminology varies between shipping lines.
Tracking a Container Coming to Nigeria
For cargo coming into Nigeria, tracking normally continues after the vessel leaves the origin country.
If your shipment is coming from China to Lagos, for example, you can monitor the vessel’s movement and estimated arrival before it reaches the Nigerian port.
Once the container arrives, the next stages involve port handling, customs clearance and eventually transportation to the final destination. Container tracking therefore should not be confused with complete door-to-door tracking.
Nigeria’s trade systems also link container information with Bills of Lading and customs documentation during import processes.
What If the Container Number Is Not Working?
A tracking number may not immediately produce a result.
Check that you entered all four letters and seven digits correctly. A single incorrect character can prevent the shipment from appearing.
If the number is correct, the shipment may be too new to appear in the carrier’s tracking system. You should also confirm that you are using the correct carrier and that the reference is a carrier-issued number rather than an internal reference from your freight forwarder.
If the shipment still cannot be found, ask your freight forwarder to confirm the container number, Bill of Lading and carrier details.
Container Tracking vs Final Delivery Tracking
A shipping line can tell you where the container is in the ocean transportation process, but this does not necessarily tell you where your goods are after they leave the port.
Once the container has been cleared and released, local transportation becomes important. The truck carrying the container may have a separate tracking system, while the freight forwarder may provide updates through its own logistics platform.
This is why importers should keep their shipping documents, customs information and local delivery details together.
How Travo.ng Can Help With Container Logistics
Tracking tells you where your cargo is, but you still need to plan what happens after it arrives.
Travo.ng can support relevant cargo logistics, transportation and delivery coordination for businesses moving imported goods within Nigeria.
For an importer receiving a container in Lagos, for example, planning transportation from the port to a warehouse, shop or customer location is an important part of completing the shipment.
Keep Your Shipment References Organised
Before your supplier or freight forwarder ships the goods, make sure you have the relevant booking reference and later obtain the container number and Bill of Lading.
Keep these details together with the vessel name, departure port, destination port and expected arrival date. This makes it easier to monitor the shipment and quickly identify problems.
For most container shipments, the simplest tracking process is: get the container number → identify the carrier → use the carrier’s tracking system → monitor vessel and port milestones → arrange customs clearance and local delivery after arrival.
