How To Track Your Container With API
Tracking container with API services is a necessary function when it comes to supply chain management.
Following the status of your container, all day through numerous carrier websites and excel sheets can be exhausting sometimes especially if you have a big number of containers, it’s time-consuming and there’s a possibility that some catastrophic error can happen.
Tracking container with API services allows you to deal faster with the exceptions, reduce costs, and provide more visibility to your customers and for you as well. Either, Estimating the correct arrival time of the cargo or tracking it in real-time in oceans are all important steps in order to prepare documents or resources at the right time.
In the article below, we will guide you through the whole process, from giving you a definition for container ship tracking to providing you with best methods to track your containers.
- What is Container Ship Tracking?
- How are Container Ships Tracked?
- How to Track Container Ships
- What data Does JsonCargo Container Ship Tracking API Show?
- How can I use API to track my vessel or container?
What is Container Ship Tracking?
Container ship tracking is a method to get information about the container ship in the ocean.
Tracking container with API gives you the ability to get updated on the most recent activities of the vessel such as heading, current_port, and destination port, cargo type among various others. In addition, these tracking systems provide important information regarding the different stages of the transportation process and logistics, including details about the different status of the container.
How are Container Ships Tracked?
The Container ships get tracked with the help of Automated Identification Systems (AIS) Every type of vessel is required to be equipped with the AIS transponder which transmits vessel locations (latitude and longitude).
The AIS transponder sends and receives regularly vessel information between ships and AIS base stations through a vast satellite network.
How to Track Container Ships?
You can track any ship containers even Maersk containers with different methods:
- Through API services and endpoints: that allow you to get real-time updates about your vessel voyage status.
The API endpoint is a really efficient way to get precise data about the vessel with updates in every few minutes. Through the API services also you’re allowed to create a full customized solution that match your requirements or your customer requirements.
2. GPS or Satellite tracking: Through a device attached to the exterior of the container and it sends out the location via cellular or satellite constellation. However,it can represent many negative sides that may let you reconsider abut following this method:
- GPS or satellite container tracking is super expensive.
- The damage to the antenna or other vital parts could stop GPS functioning.
- GPS requires the tracking device to have a clear view of the sky
3. Online: Some website provides an online platform/map where you can track your container ship using the search option or through an interactive map. Tracking online can be challenging, it’s an easy and fast method that some prefer but it cannot be an accurate source of information, as it presents many negatives sides:
- No guarantees about the timeliness
- Missing data like the container’s location for a long time
- Slow updates
How can I track my container with the bill of lading?
The bill of landing is a document that contains much important information it shows the details and represents a specification of the shipment. Using a bill of lading (BL or BOL) is a common way to track containers.
The bill of landing usually contains information such as :
- IMO (ship identification number)
- Names and addresses of the shipper (consigner) and receiver (consignee)
- Shipment date
- Quantity
- Exact weight
- Value
- freight classification
Through the IMO number provided, in easy three steps, you can start tracking your ship container in real-time. We provide self-service, you start by choosing your plan , subscribe and you’ll get your API key instantly to your email inbox and you’re free to go.
What Information Does JsonCargo Container Ship Tracking API Show?
The API gives a specific data on Vessel Name, MMSI number, IMO number, UUID, country code, vessel type and subtype with Hazard level if available, the position expressed in longitude and latitude, speed, course, heading, navigational status, destination, Estimated Time of Arrival, Actual Time of Departure, Current Draft, unlocode destination and departure ports and a timestamp.
In JsonCargo, we get the data through our AIS Terrestrial network from different providers, which allows us to calculate a vessel’s ETA much more accurately.
How can I use API to track my vessel or container?
Let’s show you how to do it:
In our example, we will tack this Container ship which has tracking number MEDU9091004
JsonCargo present multiple API endpoints API endpoints when it comes to container data but we will choose Get Containers Details.
Container Details Endpoint API Call:
The JSONCargo API allows you to track containers. Below is a guide on structuring your API requests.
1. Authentication with API Key
To access the JSONCargo API, you must authenticate using your API key. The API key is included in the header of your request.
Here’s an example CURL command:
By copy-pasting this request and putting the required parameter like(tracking number), you can get a response like below:
curl -X GET "http://api.jsoncargo.com/api/v1/containers" \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY"2. Using Parameters
Parameters in the JSONCargo API let you specify the container you want to track. For this, you include the container tracking number as part of the URL.
Replace {tracking_number} with the container number you want to track.
http://api.jsoncargo.com/api/v1/containers/{tracking_number}Example of complete API call:
curl -X GET "http://api.jsoncargo.com/api/v1/containers/MEDU9091004" \
-H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" Container Details API Response:
{
"data": {
"container_id": "MEDU9091004",
"container_type": "40' HIGH CUBE REEFER",
"container_status": "Empty received at CY",
"shipping_line_name": "Mediterranean Shipping Company",
"shipping_line_id": "0015",
"tare": null,
"shipped_from": "GUAYAQUIL, EC",
"shipped_from_terminal": "NAPORTEC TERMINAL - BANANAPUERTO ",
"shipped_to": "TRIPOLI, LY",
"shipped_to_terminal": "SPCO ( SOCIALIST PORTS CO UNDER MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ) ",
"atd_origin": "2024-07-09 00:00",
"eta_final_destination": null,
"last_location": "TRIPOLI, LY",
"last_location_terminal": "SPCO ( SOCIALIST PORTS CO UNDER MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT ) ",
"next_location": null,
"next_location_terminal": null,
"atd_last_location": "2024-08-11 00:00",
"eta_next_destination": null,
"timestamp_of_last_location": "2024-08-13 00:00",
"last_movement_timestamp": "2024-08-17 00:00",
"loading_port": "GUAYAQUIL, EC",
"discharging_port": "TRIPOLI, LY",
"customs_clearance": null,
"bill_of_lading": "MEDUGY914103",
"last_vessel_name": "MSC LENA F",
"last_voyage_number": "YF432A",
"current_vessel_name": null,
"current_voyage_number": null,
"last_updated": "2024-09-09 18:34"
}
}The Container data fields returned:
| Parameter | Data Type | Description |
| container_id | integer | Unique identifier for the container |
| container_type | string | Specifies the classification of a shipping container, indicating its size and purpose |
| container_status | string | Current status of the container |
| tare | float | Represents the empty weight of the container without any cargo inside |
| shipping_line_name | string | Name of the shipping line company |
| shipping_line_id | integer | JSONCargo Internal identifier for the shipping line company |
| shipped_from | string | Indicates the location or origin where the container was initially shipped from |
| shipped_from_terminal | string | Specifies the terminal at the origin where the container was loaded or dispatched |
| shipped_to | string | Denotes the destination where the container is being shipped to |
| shipped_to_terminal | string | Specifies the terminal at the destination where the container is scheduled to be unloaded or delivered |
| atd_origin | date time | Actual time of departure from the origin (Local time) |
| eta_final_destination | date time | Estimated time of arrival at the final destination (Local time) |
| last_location | string | The most recent location where the container was tracked |
| last_location_terminal | string | The terminal of the most recent tracked location |
| next_location | string | The upcoming destination in the container’s journey |
| next_location_terminal | string | The terminal at the next location where the container will arrive |
| atd_last_location | date time | Actual time of departure from the last known location (Local time) |
| eta_next_destination | date time | Estimated time of arrival at the next destination (Local time) |
| timestamp_of_last_location | date time | The date and time the container was last tracked at its previous location (Local time) |
| last_movement_timestamp | date time | The date and time of the most recent recorded movement of the container (Local time) |
| loading_port | string | The port where the container was initially loaded onto the vesse |
| discharging_port | string | The port where the container is scheduled to be unloaded |
| bill_of_lading | string | The unique identifier or reference for the container’s shipment documentation |
| last_vessel_name | string | The name of the last vessel the container was aboard. |
| last_voyage_number | string | The voyage number of the last vessel the container was on |
| current_vessel_name | string | The name of the current vessel the container is aboard |
| current_voyage_number | string | The voyage number of the current vessel carrying the container |
| last_updated | date time | Time when JSONCargo last retrieved container information (YYYY-MM-DD; HH:MM in UTC) |
Having precise data on a container ship’s location is crucial for supply chain operations, enabling workers to plan and allocate resources effectively based on arrival times and prepare necessary shipping documents in advance.
With the JSONCargo Live Container Tracking API, you can:
- Track ocean shipments globally through simple API integration.
- Access detailed container tracking events at ports and terminals.
- Monitor global containers as they move across oceans and ports for full worldwide visibility into their transit status.
- Integrate seamlessly with major shipping lines (see documentation for the complete list).
- Manage and track all your containers in one unified platform with JSONCargo.
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