Hapag-Lloyd has plans to equip its entire 3m teu container fleet with real-time tracking devices, following on from the successful introduction of real-time monitoring for its reefer container fleet in 2019.
The Internet of Things (IoT) product Hapag-Lloyd LIVE will become available for customers of its standard containers during 2023.
Maximilian Rothkopf, COO of Hapag-Lloyd, said: “Going forward, we will be able to provide our customers with real-time track and trace data, giving them full visibility of any container movement worldwide.
“We will be able to detect delays earlier, inform impacted customers automatically and initiate counteractions at an early stage. We firmly believe that our real-time tracking approach will not only be beneficial for our customers but be a game changer for the entire container shipping industry.”
The devices will be able to transmit data on a real-time basis from each container, thus making the supply chain more transparent and efficient.
They are able to supply location data based on GPS, measure temperature and monitor any sudden shocks to the container and, in future, additional sensors could be added through Bluetooth.
To ensure safety for crews, cargo and vessels the devices are designed and certified to the ATEX Zone 2 explosion proof standard.
Hapag-Lloyd will continue to work together with key customers to develop and expand the product and its features based on their feedback.
The shipping container monitoring device integrates the latest energy harvesting technology and low-power consumption techniques to ensure ultra-long lifetimes with high-frequency data sending.
Devices from established TradeTech partner Nexxiot AG will equip Hapag-Lloyd’s container fleet starting from this summer, as will ORBCOMM, a global leader of IoT solutions, starting later this year.
Olaf Habert, director of container applications at Hapag-Lloyd, said: “It is out vision to build the world’s smartest container fleet and to provide valuable information to our customers at the frequency they need.
“Working with the most advanced companies for global-scale IoT applications will help us to equip our container fleet as fast as possible. This is what our customers now require and increasingly expect so they can manage their compact supply chains better.”
