Container prefix operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company
Geneva, Switzerland · Founded 1970 · 760+ vessels · 7.1M TEU
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What This Prefix Tells You
The first four characters of any container number identify its owner. MADU containers belong to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) — the world's largest container shipping line by TEU capacity, operating on virtually every major trade lane globally. These containers operate primarily on Asia–Europe, Transpacific, Transatlantic. When you're tracking a MADU container, you're tracking cargo that moves through MSC's fleet of 760+ vessels.
Owner
Mediterranean Shipping Company
Headquarters
Geneva, Switzerland
Fleet Size
760+ vessels
Capacity
7.1M TEU
Founded
1970
Main Routes
Asia–Europe, Transpacific, Transatlantic
Alliance
Independent (former 2M)
Website
msc.com
The Tracking Problem
MSC updates their tracking system when milestones are logged — often hours or days after they occur. If your MADU container is slow-steaming, anchored outside port, or stuck in a customs queue, the portal won't tell you until it's logged.
MSC Portal
CargoPilot
Example MADU Container Numbers
MADU container numbers follow the ISO 6346 standard: four owner-code letters followed by six digits and a check digit.
Common Questions
The MADU container prefix is the ISO 6346 owner code for Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Mediterranean Shipping Company is the world's largest container shipping line by TEU capacity, operating on virtually every major trade lane globally. Founded in 1970, operating a fleet of 760+ vessels.
MADU container numbers follow the ISO 6346 standard: four letters (MADU) followed by six digits and a check digit — for example MADU1234567 or MADU9876543. The fourth letter is always U (freight containers), J (detachable equipment), or Z (trailers).
MADU containers are operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) primarily on Asia–Europe, Transpacific, Transatlantic. The carrier is part of the Independent (former 2M).
Stop checking MSC's portal for status codes. CargoPilot watches the actual vessel and tells you what's changed — and what it means.
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