Container Tracking
by BL Number —
The Complete Guide
Everything importers, exporters, and freight professionals need to know: what a Bill of Lading is, how to track sea cargo by BL number, free tools for MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, ONE Line, and PIL, plus the Bill of Lading vs Sea Waybill debate settled.
- What is a Bill of Lading? Meaning, pronunciation, and origin
- The three core functions of a Bill of Lading
- Who issues the Bill of Lading?
- What is container tracking by BL number?
- How to track sea cargo by Bill of Lading — step by step
- Free container tracking online: best tools
- BL tracking by carrier: MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, ONE Line, PIL
- Bill of Lading vs Sea Waybill — key differences
- Types of Bill of Lading
- What fields are on a Bill of Lading?
- Related documents: Certificate of Origin, Bill of Entry
- Bill of Lading template, PDF, and Excel downloads
- Frequently asked questions
What is a Bill of Lading? Meaning, pronunciation, and origin
A Bill of Lading (B/L or BOL) is a legally binding document issued by a carrier to a shipper, confirming that specific goods have been received for transportation. It specifies the type, quantity, condition, origin, and destination of the cargo. It simultaneously functions as a receipt, a contract of carriage, and — most critically — a document of title to the goods.
Bill of Lading pronunciation
This trips up nearly everyone in shipping. The word “lading” is pronounced /ˈleɪdɪŋ/ — rhyming with “fading,” not “landing.” The word derives from the Old English “hladan,” meaning to load. So it is bill of LAY-ding, not “bill of LAD-ing” or “bill of LAND-ing.” The common misspelling “bill of landing” is also incorrect — there is no ‘n’ before the ‘d’.
Common misspelling: “bill of landing” is incorrect. The correct spelling is always bill of lading. Similarly, “contenaier tracking” and “contanier tracking” are common misspellings of “container tracking.”
Bill of Lading origin
The Bill of Lading is one of the oldest instruments in international commerce, dating back to at least the 15th century in Mediterranean trade. The Dutch word “lading” carries exactly the same meaning — freight, cargo, a transportable load. Under English law, it is governed by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992, and most international ocean shipments fall under the Hague Rules, the Hague-Visby Rules, or the Hamburg Rules, all of which mandate the carrier to issue the shipper a bill of lading identifying the goods.
The Bill of Lading is the key that unlocks the goods at destination. Without it — or a proper release procedure — no legitimate carrier will hand over the cargo.
— Fundamental principle of international maritime law
The three core functions of a Bill of Lading
Every Bill of Lading simultaneously serves three distinct legal functions. Understanding all three is essential for anyone tracking cargo or managing international trade finance.
Receipt of Goods
It is the carrier’s formal acknowledgement that the goods were loaded onto the vessel in the stated condition. A “clean” B/L means no damage or shortage was noted. A “claused” or “dirty” B/L means exceptions were recorded — banks will often refuse such documents under Letters of Credit.
Contract of Carriage
It contains, or evidences, the terms under which the carrier agrees to transport the goods — including the route, freight charges, liability limits, and applicable conventions (e.g. Hague-Visby Rules). This contract governs any dispute between shipper and carrier.
Document of Title
This is the most important function. The B/L names the consignee with the legal right to claim the goods. Ownership transfers by endorsement. Banks use the original B/L as collateral in Letter of Credit transactions — holding it until the buyer pays.
Who issues the Bill of Lading?
The carrier — the shipping line or their authorised agent — issues the Bill of Lading after the vessel departs from the port of loading. In practice, the process works like this:
Shipper submits Shipping Instructions
After a booking is confirmed, the shipper (or their freight forwarder) submits accurate shipping instructions to the carrier: cargo description, HS codes, weight, marks, shipper/consignee details, and notify party.
Carrier prepares a B/L Draft
The carrier generates a draft B/L for the shipper’s review. This must be checked carefully — errors on the B/L are expensive to correct after the vessel sails.
Vessel departs — B/L is issued
The formal Bill of Lading is issued only after the vessel has sailed from the load port. This is the document whose number you will use for container tracking by BL number.
Original B/L sent to consignee (or bank)
Three original B/Ls are typically issued. They travel to the consignee via courier or banking channels. The consignee presents one original to the carrier at destination to collect the goods.
Freight forwarder’s B/L (FIATA B/L or House B/L): A freight forwarder may issue their own House B/L to the shipper, while the ocean carrier issues a Master B/L in the forwarder’s name. For tracking purposes, you may need either the House B/L number (from your forwarder) or the Master B/L number (from the carrier) — they are different documents.
What is container tracking by BL number?
Container tracking by BL number (also written as “BL tracking” or “bill of lading tracking”) is the process of using a Bill of Lading reference number as the search key to retrieve real-time location and status information about your sea cargo shipment.
When you enter a B/L number into a tracking platform, the system queries the carrier’s data (and/or AIS vessel transponder data) to return:
Current container location
The port or sea position of the vessel carrying your container
Vessel name & voyage
The ship transporting your cargo and its voyage reference
ATD (Actual Time of Departure)
When the vessel left the load port
ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)
Predicted arrival at the discharge port
Milestone events
Gate-in, loaded, departure, transshipment, discharge, delivery
Transshipment ports
Any intermediate ports where cargo changes vessels
A single B/L can cover multiple containers. When you track by B/L number, you see the status of the entire shipment — all containers covered by that document — in a single query. This is why sea cargo tracking by bill of lading is often preferred by importers over tracking by individual container numbers, especially for consolidated or multi-container shipments.
Vessel tracking by container number works differently: you enter the unique 11-character container number (e.g. MSCU1234567) to locate one specific physical box, regardless of which B/L it is shipped under. Both methods return similar voyage data, but the B/L method groups all containers from one commercial transaction together.
How to track sea cargo by Bill of Lading — step by step
Locate your B/L number
Find the B/L number on your Bill of Lading document, shipping instruction confirmation, or the carrier’s booking confirmation email. It typically appears in the top-right area of the B/L document. For MSC it begins with “MEDUC…” or “MSC…”, for Maersk it follows formats like “MAEU…” or “MSKU…”, for CMA CGM it begins with “CMA…” or “OPU…”.
Choose your tracking method
You have three options: (a) go directly to the carrier’s own tracking page — free and accurate but requires a separate visit per carrier; (b) use a multi-carrier tracking platform like SeaRates, which covers 210+ lines from one search box; (c) integrate via API if you are a developer or logistics manager handling bulk shipments.
Enter the B/L number
Type or paste the B/L number exactly as it appears on your document — no spaces, no hyphens unless they are part of the number. Good platforms auto-detect the carrier from the B/L format, so you may not need to select the shipping line manually.
Review the tracking results
You will see a timeline of events, vessel details, port milestones, and an ETA. If your shipment involves transshipment, you will see the intermediate port and the connecting vessel. Note that tracking data may lag 6–24 hours behind real-time vessel positions depending on the carrier’s data feed.
Set up notifications (recommended)
Most platforms offer email or SMS alerts for key events: vessel departure, arrival at transshipment, port of discharge arrival, and container release. This is especially important for avoiding demurrage — the daily charge carriers levy once a container has been at the terminal beyond the free period.
Ready to track your shipment?
Enter your B/L number, container number, or booking reference across 210+ carriers in one place — for free.
Free container tracking online: best tools in 2026
Free container tracking and bill of lading tracking free options exist for every budget. Here are the most reliable platforms for free BL tracking and sea cargo tracking by bill of lading:
SeaRates Container Tracking (searates.com)
Free tier: 1 shipment/month unregistered; 5/month with a free account. Covers 210+ shipping lines including MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, ONE Line, PIL, Evergreen, and COSCO. Accepts container number, B/L, or booking number in one search field with auto-detection. Includes interactive world map, vessel tracking, and ETA. The most comprehensive free multi-carrier option available.
🌊 Track Your Cargo on SeaRates →Maersk Track & Trace (maersk.com/tracking)
Free, no account needed. The official Maersk tracking portal accepts container numbers, B/L numbers, and parcel tracking numbers. Accurate and real-time for all Maersk-operated services. Best for Maersk B/L tracking — always go to the source for the most up-to-date data on Maersk shipments.
MSC Tracking (msc.com)
Free, no account needed. MSC B/L tracking is available directly on the MSC website. Enter your MSC Bill of Lading number or container number to get live status. MSC is the world’s largest container shipping line by fleet capacity, so their portal handles enormous data volumes. For the most accurate MSC BL tracking, always check msc.com directly.
CMA CGM Tracking (cma-cgm.com)
Free, no account needed. The CMA CGM group is the world’s third-largest container line. Their portal accepts B/L, booking, and container numbers. CMA CGM tracking covers all their subsidiary brands including ANL, CNC, APL, and Containerships — check which brand issued your B/L before selecting a tracking URL.
ONE Line Tracking / ONE Line BL Tracking (one-line.com)
Free, no account needed. Ocean Network Express (ONE Line) was formed from the merger of K Line, MOL, and NYK Line container businesses. ONE Line BL tracking uses B/L numbers prefixed with formats like “ONEY…” or “MOLU…” (for older MOL-origin B/Ls). The official ONE Line tracking portal handles all legacy and current ONE BL numbers.
PIL Tracking / PIL BL Number Tracking (pilship.com)
Free, no account needed. Pacific International Lines (PIL) is a major Singapore-based carrier with a strong presence in Asia–Africa and Asia–Middle East trade. PIL tracking by BL number is available on their official portal. PIL B/L numbers typically begin with “PILC” or “PABV” followed by digits.
Caution with third-party tracking sites: Many websites claim to offer free container tracking but are primarily data aggregators or lead-generation pages. For the most accurate, real-time data, always cross-check with the carrier’s own portal. Third-party platforms are most valuable when you are managing shipments across multiple carriers simultaneously.
BL tracking by carrier: MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, ONE Line, PIL, and more
Each of the world’s major shipping lines operates its own tracking portal. Here is a reference guide for the carriers most commonly searched:
The world’s largest container line by fleet capacity. MSC BL tracking accepts B/L, container, and booking numbers. MSC B/L numbers typically begin with “MEDUC” for Mediterranean trade lanes or “MSC…” followed by alphanumeric characters.
Track at msc.com ↗Example B/L format: MEDU1234567 / MSCUAB12345
The Danish giant offers the most seamless tracking experience. Maersk tracking accepts B/L, container, and parcel numbers in a single field. Results include vessel ETA, port milestones, and CO₂ emissions data.
Track at maersk.com ↗Example B/L format: MAEU123456789 / MSKU1234567
Third largest globally, operating 580+ vessels to 420 ports. CMA CGM tracking accepts B/L, booking, and container numbers. Covers subsidiary brands ANL, APL, CNC, Containerships, and Hamburg Süd.
Track at cma-cgm.com ↗Example B/L format: CMDUAB1234567 / OPU1234567
Ocean Network Express (ONE Line) was formed from K Line, MOL, and NYK. The ONE Line tracking portal handles both current ONE BL numbers and legacy MOL/NYK/K Line B/Ls from shipments before the 2018 merger.
Track at one-line.com ↗Example B/L format: ONEYSH12345678 / MOLU12345678
Pacific International Lines (Singapore). Strong on Asia–Africa, Asia–Middle East, and intra-Asia routes. PIL BL tracking is available on their official portal. PIL is a go-to carrier for East African port routes.
Track at pilship.com ↗Example B/L format: PILCA1234567 / PABVAB12345
Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth-largest carrier globally, known for schedule reliability. Their portal accepts B/L and container numbers and provides detailed milestone event timelines.
Track at hapag-lloyd.com ↗Example B/L format: HLCUSG1234567890
Taiwan-based Evergreen (EGLV) is one of Asia’s largest carriers, especially strong on Trans-Pacific and Asia–Europe routes. Tracking supports B/L and container numbers.
Track at evergreen-line.com ↗Example B/L format: EISU1234567 / EGHU1234567
China COSCO Shipping and its subsidiary OOCL form the world’s fourth-largest container group. Both carriers have separate tracking portals, accepting B/L and container numbers.
Track at coscoshipping.com ↗Example B/L format: COSU1234567890
Track any of these carriers in one place
SeaRates aggregates 210+ shipping lines — paste your B/L, container number, or booking reference once and get results across all major carriers.
Bill of Lading vs Sea Waybill — key differences explained
The Bill of Lading and the Sea Waybill are both issued by carriers and both serve as evidence of contract of carriage. However, they have one fundamental difference that changes how goods can be collected — and how trade finance works.
| Feature | Bill of Lading (B/L) | Sea Waybill (SWB) |
|---|---|---|
| Document of title? | Yes — holder has legal right to goods | No — not a document of title |
| Negotiable? | Yes — can be endorsed and transferred to a third party | No — only the named consignee can claim |
| Original required for delivery? | Yes — one original must be presented | No — consignee identified by name only |
| Used in Letters of Credit? | Yes — banks require original B/Ls as collateral | Rarely — banks generally prefer B/Ls |
| Speed of cargo release | Slower — originals must travel to consignee | Faster — no original document needed |
| Risk of cargo theft / fraud | Higher — original can be stolen or presented fraudulently | Lower — cargo only released to named party |
| Goods sold in transit? | Yes — ownership transferred by endorsement | No — ownership cannot transfer to a new party |
| Best used when? | International trade, L/C transactions, goods sold en route | Intercompany transfers, trusted consignee, time-sensitive delivery |
Telex Release / Surrender B/L: This is not a separate document type, but a release procedure. The shipper surrenders the original B/Ls to the carrier at origin, and the carrier instructs the destination office to release cargo to the named consignee without requiring the original document. Widely used in trade with trusted buyers to speed up cargo release — especially common on short-sea routes like Asia–Australia.
Choose a Bill of Lading when
- The shipment is under a Letter of Credit
- Goods may be sold during transit
- You need documentary control of cargo
- International regulations require a B/L for customs
- The consignee is unknown at time of shipment
Choose a Sea Waybill when
- Shipper and consignee are the same company (intercompany)
- You want fast cargo release without original documents
- Open account trade with a trusted buyer
- The cargo will likely arrive before the original B/L
- You want to minimise document courier costs
Types of Bill of Lading
Not all Bills of Lading are the same. The type issued depends on the nature of the shipment, the parties involved, and the trade finance structure in place.
Negotiable (Order) Bill of Lading
Made out “to order” or “to order of [bank].” Can be transferred to a third party by endorsement, allowing goods to be sold multiple times during transit. The standard instrument in Letter of Credit trade finance. The most common type in international ocean freight.
Straight (Non-Negotiable) Bill of Lading
Made out to a specific, named consignee. Cannot be transferred. The named consignee is the only party who can collect the goods. Common in domestic shipping and intercompany transfers. Functionally similar to a Sea Waybill.
Clean Bill of Lading
Issued when the carrier receives the goods in apparent good order and condition, with no exceptions noted. This is what banks require for Letter of Credit payment. The words “clean on board” or equivalent signify this status.
Claused (Dirty) Bill of Lading
Notes defects, damage, or discrepancies in the cargo at time of loading — e.g. “bags torn,” “shortage of 10 cartons.” Banks will typically reject this under an L/C unless the letter of credit specifically permits it. Can complicate cargo insurance claims.
Through Bill of Lading
Covers multimodal transport across multiple legs — for example, sea freight combined with inland rail or truck transport — under a single contract and document. The issuing carrier takes responsibility for the entire journey, including the inland leg.
House B/L vs Master B/L
A freight forwarder issues a House B/L (HBL) to the shipper, showing the shipper and actual consignee as parties. The ocean carrier issues a Master B/L (MBL) to the freight forwarder as the contractual shipper. For tracking purposes, you usually need the MBL number to query the carrier’s system directly.
Short Form Bill of Lading
A simplified B/L that omits the full terms and conditions printed on the reverse (instead incorporating them by reference). Functionally equivalent to a full B/L but lighter on paperwork. Available as a short form bill of lading PDF template from many carriers and freight associations.
What fields are on a Bill of Lading?
A standard ocean Bill of Lading contains the following key information fields. These are the same fields you will need to complete when filling in a Bill of Lading template (Excel or PDF):
B/L Number
The unique reference number — the one used for tracking
Shipper
Full name and address of the party sending the goods
Consignee
Full name and address of the party receiving the goods, or “To Order of [Bank]”
Notify Party
Party to be notified when vessel arrives — often the importer’s customs agent
Vessel Name & Voyage Number
The ship and voyage carrying the cargo
Port of Loading
Where goods were loaded onto the vessel
Port of Discharge
Where goods will be unloaded
Place of Delivery
Final destination if different from port of discharge (for door delivery)
Container Numbers & Seal Numbers
The unique container IDs and carrier seal references
Cargo Description
HS code, description, number of packages, weight, and volume
Freight Terms
Prepaid (shipper pays) or Collect (consignee pays freight)
Number of Originals
Typically three originals — usually stated as “Three (3)/3”
Bill of Lading template, PDF, and Excel downloads
If you need to issue or review a Bill of Lading, several template formats are available. It is important to understand that the official, legally binding B/L is always issued by the carrier — not the shipper. However, shippers and freight forwarders often use templates to prepare accurate shipping instructions and to create House B/Ls (for forwarder-issued documents).
Important: A Bill of Lading free template downloaded from the internet is only suitable for internal reference, drafting shipping instructions, or as a freight forwarder’s House B/L. Ocean carriers issue their own proprietary B/L formats — you cannot present a generic template to claim goods from MSC, Maersk, or CMA CGM.
What to look for in a Bill of Lading template
A good Bill of Lading template (Excel or PDF) should include all the key fields listed in the previous section. Whether you are looking for a bill of lading template Excel format (for automated data entry) or a bill of lading PDF (for printing and signing), ensure it covers:
Header section
Shipper, consignee, notify party, B/L number, booking reference
Routing section
Port of loading, port of discharge, place of delivery, vessel name/voyage
Cargo section
Container numbers, seal numbers, cargo description, package count, weight, volume
Terms section
Freight prepaid/collect, number of originals, place and date of issue, carrier signature
Short Form Bill of Lading
A short form bill of lading PDF omits the full terms and conditions (printed on the reverse of a long-form B/L) and instead incorporates them by reference. It is lighter and faster to issue, and is particularly common in intra-regional trade. Most major carriers and freight associations such as FIATA and BIMCO publish standard short form templates.
Where to find Bill of Lading templates
Reliable sources for a bill of lading free template include:
- FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations) — publishes standardised FBL (FIATA Bill of Lading) templates
- BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council) — standard voyage charter party B/L forms
- Your freight forwarder’s platform — most TMS and freight management systems include built-in B/L templates
- Individual carrier websites — for Maersk, MSC, and CMA CGM, B/L drafts are generated digitally via their online business portals
Frequently asked questions
BL tracking (or bill of lading tracking) is the process of entering a B/L number into a carrier or third-party tracking system to get real-time updates on the location, status, and ETA of a sea freight shipment. It is the most convenient way to monitor an entire shipment because one B/L can cover multiple containers.
Yes — bill of lading tracking is free on all major carrier websites (MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, ONE Line, PIL, Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, COSCO, etc.). Multi-carrier platforms like SeaRates offer free tiers with limited monthly searches. For bulk or API-based tracking, paid plans are available from several providers.
Vessel tracking by container number uses the physical container’s unique 11-character ISO code (e.g. MSCU1234567) to track one specific box. BL tracking uses the bill of lading reference number and returns all containers covered by that shipment document. Both methods return similar voyage milestones, but BL tracking is better for tracking a full commercial shipment, while container number tracking is better for monitoring individual boxes — especially useful for demurrage management at terminals.
Your MSC B/L number appears on the physical Bill of Lading document issued by MSC or your freight forwarder. It also appears in the MSC shipping confirmation email and on the MSC e-Commerce portal if you have an account. MSC B/L numbers typically begin with “MEDUC” for Mediterranean origins or follow an MSC-specific alphanumeric format. If you have a House B/L from a freight forwarder, ask them for the corresponding Master B/L number to track on MSC’s own portal.
ONE Line (Ocean Network Express) is the result of the merger of the container businesses of K Line, MOL, and NYK in 2018. ONE Line BL tracking uses the B/L number issued by ONE for post-merger shipments. If your B/L was issued before 2018 by K Line, MOL, or NYK, those legacy carriers may still be reachable via ONE’s portal, but in some cases you may need to contact ONE’s customer service directly for very old shipments.
The fundamental difference is negotiability and title. A Bill of Lading is a document of title — the holder has legal right to the goods, and ownership can be transferred by endorsement to a third party. A Sea Waybill is not a document of title — the named consignee simply identifies themselves to collect the cargo. Waybills are faster and simpler but cannot be used as collateral in Letter of Credit transactions.
The Bill of Lading is issued by the carrier (the shipping line), not the shipper. The shipper prepares and submits shipping instructions to the carrier, who uses that information to generate the B/L. A freight forwarder may issue a House B/L in their own capacity as a transport intermediary, but the ocean carrier’s Master B/L is always the primary carrier-issued document.
A Certificate of Origin (CO) is a separate document that certifies the country where the goods were manufactured or produced. It is required by the destination country’s customs authority to determine import duties and to verify eligibility for preferential tariff rates under trade agreements. The Bill of Lading and Certificate of Origin are both required at customs, but they serve different purposes — the B/L proves the shipment; the CO proves the origin of the goods.
A Bill of Entry is a formal document filed by an importer or their customs agent with the customs authority at the port of import. It declares the goods being imported — their nature, quantity, value, and HS code — so that import duties and taxes can be assessed. It is not issued by the carrier; it is filed by the importer. The original Bill of Lading is typically a required supporting document when submitting a Bill of Entry.
Yes. Most carrier portals and multi-carrier platforms like SeaRates accept booking numbers as a tracking input. Booking number tracking gives you pre-departure milestones such as gate-in confirmation and equipment availability. However, full voyage tracking (vessel position, ETA, transshipment events) only becomes available once the vessel has departed — at which point the B/L number becomes the primary reference.
This guide covers container tracking by BL number, bill of lading tracking free options, MSC BL tracking, Maersk tracking, CMA CGM tracking, ONE Line BL tracking, PIL tracking by BL number, vessel tracking by container number, sea cargo tracking by bill of lading, bill of lading meaning, bill of lading vs waybill, certificate of origin, bill of entry, and bill of lading templates (PDF and Excel). Updated April 2026. All carrier portal URLs are provided for reference — always verify current URLs directly with the carrier.