Maersk tracking

What is Maersk?

A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S is a Danish container shipping and integrated logistics company headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in April 1904 in the coastal town of Svendborg by captain Peter Mærsk Møller and his son Arnold Peter Møller, the company began as a modest regional steamship operation before expanding over more than a century into one of the largest ocean carriers in the world. Maersk is publicly traded on Nasdaq Copenhagen, with the Møller family retaining controlling ownership through holding companies.

The history of Maersk traces the development of international maritime commerce across more than twelve decades. By 1913 the group had added brokerage services, and by 1918 A.P. Møller had established the Odense Steel Shipyard, which designed and built vessels for the fleet for nearly a century. The Second World War brought heavy losses. Of the 46 ships in the Maersk fleet when German forces occupied Denmark on 9 April 1940, 25 were lost during the conflict and 150 seafarers perished. Through determined rebuilding after the armistice, Maersk restored its pre-war tonnage within three years and went on to develop Maersk Line into one of the world's dominant container carriers.

• Founded: April 1904 in Svendborg, Denmark, by captain Peter Mærsk Møller and his son Arnold Peter (A.P.) Møller
• Legal entity name: A.P. Møller - Maersk A/S
• Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Ownership: Publicly traded on Nasdaq Copenhagen, with controlling ownership held by the Møller family through holding companies
• Fleet size: Approximately 740 ships calling on 343 ports and terminals across 121 countries
• Global network: Direct connections to 133 countries through 426 ports and inland hubs, with 563 terminal locations worldwide
• SCAC code: MAEU
• Container number prefixes: MSKU, MRKU, MRSU, MAEU, and MAAU
• Gemini Cooperation: Operational alliance with Hapag-Lloyd active from 1 February 2025, covering 29 mainline and 29 shuttle services on East-West trade lanes, scheduled to run through January 2029

Maersk's strategic direction over the past decade has shifted from pure ocean shipping toward integrated logistics. The company has expanded through targeted acquisitions of warehouse operators, customs brokers, inland transport providers, and technology firms, building a service portfolio that covers the movement of cargo from factory floor to final destination. This positioning distinguishes Maersk from traditional ocean carriers and reflects the growing demand among multinational shippers for a single provider capable of managing an entire supply chain rather than individual transport legs.

In 2025, Maersk reported full-year ocean volume growth of 4.9% and its Terminals segment achieved its strongest financial performance on record. The Gemini Cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd, which went live on 1 February 2025, delivered an average schedule reliability of approximately 90% across its first year, with Asia-North Europe and Transatlantic trade lanes exceeding 95% reliability. These results reflect Maersk's emphasis on network predictability as a competitive differentiator in a market characterized by volatile global trade conditions.

Which countries does Maersk deliver to?

Maersk operates across approximately 130 countries, with a network that directly connects 133 countries through 426 ports and inland hubs and spans 563 terminal locations worldwide. This coverage allows Maersk to handle cargo movements between virtually any major export and import market on the planet. The company's subsidiary APM Terminals holds interests in 57 ports and container terminals across 36 countries on five continents, complemented by 155 inland services operations in 48 countries.

In Europe, Maersk operates at major container terminals including Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Gothenburg, Algeciras, Barcelona, Valencia, and Zeebrugge. A feeder shipping network connects smaller regional ports to these main hub terminals, extending Maersk's reach into markets that cannot accommodate the largest container vessels. The Gemini Cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd has particularly strengthened schedule reliability on Asia-North Europe routes, one of the highest-volume trade corridors in the world.

• Europe: Rotterdam (Netherlands), Bremerhaven and Wilhelmshaven (Germany), Gothenburg (Sweden), Algeciras, Barcelona and Valencia (Spain), Zeebrugge (Belgium), plus extensive feeder connections to smaller European ports
• North America: Los Angeles, Miami, Mobile, Port Elizabeth, and Tacoma (United States), covering both West and East coasts
• Latin America: Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santos, Itajaí and Pecém (Brazil), Buenaventura and Cartagena (Colombia), Callao (Peru), Lázaro Cárdenas and Yucatan (Mexico), Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala), and Limon (Costa Rica)
• Asia: Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Qingdao, Dalian and Xiamen (China), Yokohama and Kobe (Japan), Laem Chabang (Thailand), Cai Mep (Vietnam), Tanjung Pelepas (Malaysia), Singapore, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Karachi (Pakistan), and Pipavav (India)
• Middle East and Africa: Jebel Ali (UAE), Port Said (Egypt), Salalah (Oman), Aqaba (Jordan), Haifa (Israel), and Bahrain

International shipments via Maersk move through the company's own terminals and vessels, with cargo routed on direct services between hub ports where available and via transshipment at intermediate ports where needed. Asia-Europe and Asia-North America are among the company's highest-volume corridors, with the Gemini Cooperation specifically designed to improve schedule reliability on these East-West trade lanes. The Latin American network was historically reinforced through Maersk's 2016 acquisition of Hamburg Süd, a German carrier with significant penetration in South American trade routes.

What are the Maersk services and delivery times?

Maersk's service portfolio spans ocean freight, air freight, ground transport, freight forwarding, warehousing, customs brokerage, and supply chain management. The core of the business remains ocean container shipping, offered as full container load, FCL, for shippers with enough cargo to fill a 20-foot or 40-foot container, and as less-than-container-load, LCL, for smaller shipments. Online bookings and instant spot rate quotes are available through Maersk Go, the company's digital booking tool, which allows customers to obtain real-time freight rates and complete transactions in a single digital workflow without going through a freight forwarder.

• Ocean Transport (FCL/LCL): Standard container shipping on Maersk's global network, covering dry cargo in standard containers, refrigerated cargo in reefer containers, and special cargo requiring flat-rack or out-of-gauge equipment
• Maersk Accelerate: Priority ocean service available to contract customers, featuring top stowage on vessels, prioritized discharge at the destination port, express inland haulage to the consignee's facility, and the option to redirect discharge to an earlier or later port while cargo is still at sea at no additional operational cost
• Air Freight: Three service tiers offered through Maersk Air Cargo, covering standard and urgent shipments, dangerous goods, and temperature-sensitive cold chain cargo, with a sea-air intermodal option combining ocean cost levels with faster delivery for select corridors
• Ground Freight: Less-than-truckload (LTL) and full-truckload (FTL) movements covering inland transport across continents and borders, including warehouse-to-linehaul-to-home-delivery flows
• Freight Forwarding: Digital platform consolidating ocean, air, and inland bookings into a single workflow, with quote generation, document management, and shipment tracking
• Warehousing and Distribution: Bonded storage facilities, omni-channel fulfilment centres, and regional distribution hubs, with value-added services including co-packing, labelling, and late localisation for adapting products to specific markets after storage
• Lead Logistics (4PL): Maersk acts as the customer's lead logistics partner, integrating and managing ocean, inland air, customs, and warehousing services alongside external third-party providers into a single coordinated supply chain
• Project Logistics: Handling for large-scale industrial or infrastructure projects requiring specialized assets and expert coordination for oversized or heavy-lift cargo movements
• Customs Services: Brokerage, commodity classification support, and trade compliance consulting, available locally in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and across the European Union
• Value Protect: Extended cargo liability coverage beyond standard bill of lading terms, covering loss or damage caused by fire, maritime accidents, theft, natural disasters, cyber incidents, delay-related damage, and General Average contributions
• Parcel Logistics: Digital platform for global parcel shipping and returns management, with full tracking visibility for e-commerce and retail shippers

Ocean freight transit times on Maersk's network are measured in weeks rather than days, reflecting the nature of sea transport over long intercontinental distances. On major East-West trade lanes such as Asia to Northern Europe or Asia to North America, typical ocean transit times range from approximately two to five weeks depending on the specific origin and destination ports, whether the shipment travels on a direct service or requires transshipment, and the applicable vessel schedule. Maersk publishes vessel schedules and estimated transit times for each trade lane through its online sailing schedule tool.

Air freight services operate on significantly faster timeframes measured in days. The three service tiers within Maersk Air Cargo offer different balances between speed and cost, and sea-air intermodal combinations provide an intermediate option for shippers who need faster delivery than pure ocean freight but at a lower cost than full air. The Gemini Cooperation with Hapag-Lloyd has materially improved schedule reliability on ocean routes, with the partnership averaging approximately 90% reliability across its first year of operation from February 2025.

What are the Maersk rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

Maersk's ocean freight pricing is structured around the container as the base unit of measurement. The freight rate is set per container type and reflects the specific origin-destination trade lane, the contracted rate tier, and current market supply and demand conditions. Instant spot rates for eligible lanes are available through Maersk Go. On top of the base ocean rate, shippers should expect additional charges that vary by route, including terminal handling charges at both origin and destination ports, port fees, documentation fees, and overweight charges for containers that exceed standard gross weight limits. Detention and demurrage charges apply when containers are held beyond the free time allowed at the terminal or at the customer's facility.

• Ocean pricing unit: Per container type, with rates varying by equipment size (20-foot, 40-foot, 40-foot high cube), trade lane, contracted tier, and spot market conditions at the time of booking
• Standard container types: 20-foot dry (TEU), 40-foot dry (FEU), 40-foot high cube, reefer containers for refrigerated cargo, flat-rack and out-of-gauge equipment for special cargo
• 20-foot container weight limit: Gross weights typically up to 24-28 tonnes depending on the specific container specification and the regulations applicable to the trade lane
• 40-foot container weight limit: Higher gross weight capacity than a 20-foot unit, but subject to road transport weight limits applicable in each country traversed during inland haulage at destination
• Air freight pricing: Calculated on actual gross weight or volumetric (dimensional) weight, whichever is greater, with rates varying by service tier, origin-destination pair, and cargo type
• Additional charges: Terminal handling charges, port fees, documentation fees, overweight surcharges, detention and demurrage, and Value Added Service fees are each itemized separately and published in Maersk's charges glossary

For air freight, the chargeable weight is determined by comparing actual gross weight against volumetric weight, with the higher figure used as the billing basis. This approach accounts for cargo that occupies significant space aboard the aircraft without weighing heavily, and shippers moving bulky but lightweight goods should calculate both figures before estimating freight costs. Longer routes or shipments requiring handling at multiple intermediate points typically carry higher costs due to the additional logistics resources involved at each stage of the journey.

What are the Maersk delivery options?

For standard ocean freight container shipments, the most common delivery arrangement at destination is port pickup, where the consignee or their appointed freight forwarder collects the container from the terminal after customs clearance has been completed. Maersk also offers inland haulage through its Ground Freight network, in which case the carrier arranges road transport from the destination terminal to the consignee's address. The consignee is responsible for customs clearance in the destination country under most Incoterms arrangements, unless the parties have agreed to DDP, Delivered Duty Paid, terms, under which the shipper bears full responsibility and cost for import clearance and applicable duties.

• Port pickup: The consignee or their appointed broker collects the container from the destination terminal after completing customs clearance and paying all applicable terminal charges
• Inland haulage: Maersk arranges road transport from the destination port to the consignee's address through its Ground Freight network, covering both LTL and FTL movements
• Maersk Accelerate delivery: Express inland haulage to the consignee's facility as part of the priority service, combined with top stowage and prioritized discharge at the destination port to minimize time between vessel arrival and final delivery
• Arrival notice: Formal notification sent to consignees when their shipment has arrived at the destination port, allowing them to initiate customs clearance and collection arrangements promptly
• Digital shipment notifications: Customers can subscribe to vessel ETA updates and actual arrival alerts through Maersk's online platform, maintaining advance visibility of incoming cargo before it reaches port
• Parcel delivery: For parcel logistics services, Maersk provides a digital tracking platform with returns management, designed for e-commerce and retail shippers requiring flexible last-mile solutions

Customs clearance is a prerequisite for the physical release of cargo at destination in all international trade lanes. Maersk's Customs Services team can act as customs broker in select destination markets, accelerating the clearance process and the handover of goods. When cargo is held by customs authorities for inspection or additional documentation, the consignee is notified through the customer service channel. For Maersk Accelerate shipments, the integrated express inland haulage component begins immediately after priority discharge is completed, shortening the total time between vessel arrival and final delivery compared to standard service arrangements.

What should I do if my Maersk parcel is lost or damaged?

When cargo arrives damaged or does not arrive at all, the first required step is to notify the local Maersk customer service office in writing as soon as the loss or damage is discovered. Prompt notification is specifically required under Maersk's claims terms, and failure to report in a timely manner may affect the claimant's legal rights under international maritime conventions. Maersk will provide a detailed claims guide to the claimant upon their initial notification, outlining the documentation requirements and the steps in the process.

• Notice of damage deadline: Written notification must be submitted to the local Maersk country office within 3 days of delivery of the cargo
• Final quantified claim deadline: The complete claim with full documentation of the loss amount must be submitted within 1 year of the delivery date, or the date on which the goods should have been delivered
• Required documents: Claim cover letter, written notification of the damage or loss, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, survey report if applicable, and any other evidence relevant to the nature and extent of the loss
• Claims resolution timeline: 14 days from the date Maersk receives complete documentation, particularly for claims filed under the Value Protect product
• Value Protect: Maersk's extended cargo liability product providing coverage beyond standard bill of lading terms for events including fire, maritime accidents, theft, natural disasters, cyber incidents, delay-related damage, and General Average contributions, specifically designed to simplify and accelerate the claims process compared to working through a traditional marine insurance policy

The time limits for cargo claims align with international maritime conventions and are strictly observed. A notice of damage filed more than 3 days after delivery, or a final quantified claim submitted more than 1 year after the relevant date, may be rejected on procedural grounds regardless of the underlying merits of the claim. Claimants should therefore act promptly upon discovering any issue with their shipment, gather all relevant commercial documents before filing, and contact the appropriate Maersk country office rather than a general inquiry channel to initiate the process through the correct route.

Does Maersk handle international shipments and customs formalities?

International shipping is the foundation of Maersk's operations, and every shipment moving on Maersk vessels crosses at least one international border, requiring customs clearance in both the origin and destination country. Maersk offers dedicated Customs Services in multiple markets, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and across the European Union, providing customs brokerage, commodity classification support, and trade compliance consulting to assist both shippers and consignees with clearance requirements.

Customs clearance requires a customs declaration prepared by a licensed broker, supported by a set of commercial documents. Standard required paperwork includes a commercial invoice, a packing list, and either a bill of lading or cargo receipt, with additional documents required depending on the specific commodity, the country of origin, and the import regulations of the destination country. Accurate Harmonized System, HS, tariff codes must be used in all shipping documentation, as correct classification reduces the risk of customs delays, unexpected duty assessments, and legal complications at the border.

• Customs brokerage markets: United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and across the European Union, through Maersk's local Customs Services teams in each country
• Standard customs documents: Commercial invoice, packing list, and bill of lading or cargo receipt as a minimum, with additional documents required for specific commodities, regulated goods, or markets with stricter import controls
• DDP Incoterms: Under Delivered Duty Paid terms, the seller bears all costs and risks of bringing goods to the named destination, including import customs clearance and all applicable duties and taxes, with Maersk having published detailed guidance on this arrangement for customers
• DAP and FOB Incoterms: Under these terms, customs clearance responsibility falls to the buyer or consignee in the destination country, who is responsible for import duties and arranging local clearance independently
• Hazardous cargo: Handled according to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code for ocean shipments and IATA regulations for air freight, requiring specific declarations, approved packaging standards, and in some cases restricted stowage positions aboard the vessel
• Import and export restrictions: Every country imposes restrictions on specific categories of goods, covering prohibited commodities, goods requiring special licenses, weight limitations, and hazardous cargo rules that vary significantly from market to market and are subject to regulatory change

All countries impose restrictions on specific categories of goods that cannot be imported or exported, or that require special licensing or permits. These rules vary significantly from one destination to the next and are subject to change with regulatory updates, making it important for shippers to verify the applicable rules for each origin-destination pair before booking. Maersk advises customers to confirm current import and export restrictions with the relevant authorities in both the origin and destination country, particularly when shipping specialized commodities that may be subject to additional controls or documentation requirements in the target market.

Understanding tracking statuses

Maersk provides real-time shipment tracking through its online tracking portal. Customers can search for their shipment using three types of identifiers, a container number, a bill of lading number, or a parcel tracking number. Container numbers follow an 11-character alphanumeric format consisting of a four-letter prefix followed by seven digits, with Maersk's commonly used prefixes including MSKU, MRKU, MRSU, MAEU, and MAAU. Bill of lading numbers are either a purely numeric 9-character code or an alphanumeric identifier beginning with the prefix MAEU followed by 8 to 12 characters. Tracking data is updated in real time at each milestone and is also accessible through third-party API integrations for enterprise customers who need to feed visibility data into their own internal systems.

When tracking a Maersk container or shipment, different status messages appear as cargo moves through the logistics chain from the origin terminal to the final destination. Each status indicates a specific action or stage in the routing of the shipment, allowing shippers and consignees to follow the progress of their cargo and anticipate when it will be available for pickup or delivery. The table below explains the main statuses and what each one means in practice.