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Ocean Container Tracking User Guide
Ocean Container Tracking User Guide

Overview and instructional guide for how to initiate and use our container tracking feature

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Written by Shipwell TMS Support
Updated over a year ago

Overview

Shipwell has robust container tracking services to improve the quality of the tracking information received. The modes of transportation that Shipwell offers container tracking for are Ocean and Drayage. To initiate this service, please engage with your Customer Success Manager directly. This service may require an additional statement of work to turn on.

Initiating Container Tracking

Once a Drayage shipment has been created in the Shipwell system, container tracking will begin automatically once 3 pieces of information have been updated on the shipment. These fields include:

  • BOL # (the ocean Master BOL# / Booking #)

  • Container #

  • Ocean Carrier SCAC code

These fields are all located on the shipment in the References section, and all must be filled in for tracking to begin. Once tracking has started, the system will receive updates for the life cycle of the container movement on the shipment.

Container Updates

All container updates and milestone events will be displayed on the Shipment Tracking tab as they currently are today. Updates are received from the tracking provider as they occur, and can happen multiple times throughout the day. The expected milestone events include the following updates as shown on this test container:

In addition to the milestones above, updates will appear in the timeline when:

  • ETA at the destination port is updated

  • Customs holds changes occur

  • Demurrage is assigned to the container

The following shipment fields will also be directly updated based on the tracking data, and will include:

  • Estimated Container Arrival

  • Release Date

  • Last Free Date

  • Container Return Date

Mapped Container Location Updates

As container location updates are received from the tracking service, the latest location will be updated on the shipment tracking map. Depending on the ocean carrier the system will receive 2 to 4 location updates per day. Hovering over any of the location points on the map will display the date and time of the location update.

Additional Container Tracking Shipment Fields

Users will now have the ability to view additional container tracking fields associated with their Drayage shipments. When the Bill of Lading, Container #, and Ocean Carrier SCAC fields are populated container tracking is started automatically. Additionally, when these fields are populated on a drayage shipment the Container Details card will be available at the top of the Shipment Details page.

Since all of these fields are updated automatically by the container tracking system, they are non-editable by users.

The following fields are available in the Container Details card:

  • Port of Loading

  • Estimated Port of Loading Departure

  • Port of Discharge

  • Port of Discharge Terminal

  • POD Terminal Address

  • Vessel Name

  • Voyage Number

  • Container Type

  • Vessel IMO

  • Vessel MMSI

  • Customs Hold Type

  • Customs Hold Resolve Date

  • Customs Release Date

  • Demurrage Incurred

  • Rail Carrier

  • Final Terminal

  • LFD at Rail Terminal

Daily Container Exception Email

Users can now opt in to receive a daily email notification that highlights drayage container activity. This can be activated by clicking on the user avatar in the upper right corner of the screen, and selecting Profile and Preferences. From there, select the Notifications menu option to see the list of available notifications. Check the email box for the Container Tracking Update notification and you will receive the daily email.

The email notification will include the following information:

  • Container ETA has changed

    • Shipment ID (Link)

    • Container ID

    • Destination Port

    • Previous Container ETA Date

    • New Container ETA Date

  • Customs hold activity (Hold & Released)

    • Shipment ID (Link)

    • Container ID

    • Destination Port

    • Terminal at Destination Port

    • Hold Date

    • Customs Status

  • Container incurring demurrage fees

    • Shipment ID (Link)

    • Container ID

    • Destination Port

    • Destination Terminal

    • Total Demurrage

    • (Sort the data by Total Demurrage, highest first)

  • Containers arriving at final port in the next 3 days - use the ETA on the container

    • Shipment ID (Link)

    • Container ID

    • Destination Port

    • Date the ship left the origin port

    • (Sort the data by newest date)

  • Containers that left origin port in the last 3 days - check vessel departure event

    • Shipment ID (Link)

    • Container ID

    • Origin Port

    • Date the ship left the origin port

    • (Sort the data by newest date)

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