Hapag-Lloyd equips its entire container fleet with real-time trackers
In 2019 Hapag-Lloyd installed real-time tracking devices at its reefer containers. Since the solution proved its efficiency, the German shipping line decided to install similar trackers on its all dry container fleet, which comprises 3 million TEU. The boxes with real-time monitoring will become available for the customers starting from 2023.
“Going forward, we will 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”, said Maximilian Rothkopf, COO of Hapag-Lloyd.
The devices will be able to transmit data on a real-time basis from each container and by this make the supply chain more transparent and efficient. They can supply location data based on GPS, measure temperature and monitor any sudden shocks to the container. 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. The company will continue to work together with key customers to develop and expand the product and its features based on their feedback.
Two suppliers
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. The container fleet will be equipped with devices both from established TradeTech partner Nexxiot AG starting this summer as well as with devices from ORBCOMM, a global leader in Internet-of-Things solutions, starting later this year.
“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. 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 complex supply chains better,” added Olaf Habert, director for container applications at Hapag-Lloyd.