Real-time tracking has been rolled out across the entire container fleet of Hapag-Lloyd through the introduction of an internet-of-things (IoT) service called ‘Live Position’.
The development is the latest significant IoT development in live cargo movement monitoring by the German carrier after the Hamburg-headquartered line introduced ‘Hapag-Lloyd LIVE’ for reefer boxes in 2019.
The addition of ‘Live Position’ entails installing tracking devices across its entire dry cargo capacity of three million TEU.
COO Maximilion Rothkopf said the carrier would now “be able to provide all 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 and thereby make the supply chain more transparent and efficient.
They can supply location data based on GPS, measure temperature and monitor any sudden shocks to containers.
Additional sensors can also be added through Bluetooth.
To ensure safety for crews, cargo and vessels, ‘Live Position’ devices are designed according to the latest global explosion-proof standards.
Hapag-Lloyd said it would continue to work together with key customers to develop and expand the IoT product and its features based on their feedback.
The technology integrates the latest energy harvesting means and low-power consumption techniques to ensure ultra-long lifetimes with high-frequency data sending.
“It is our vision to build the world’s smartest container fleet and to provide valuable information to our customers at the frequency they need,” said Olaf Habert, director of Container Applications at Hapag-Lloyd.
