Tracking · Hapag-Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd tracking: how to track a container by its number
· 4 min read · Flettia team
If your container number starts with HLCU, HLXU, HLBU, UACU, UASU, it belongs to Hapag-Lloyd. That number is all you need to know where it is going, when it arrives and which moves it has made, without opening the carrier's portal. This guide sums up what is specific to Hapag-Lloyd: its prefixes, how it publishes its data and what to look for on the timeline.
Who Hapag-Lloyd is and which prefixes it uses
Hapag-Lloyd is the German carrier with the strongest presence on lanes between Europe, North America and Latin America. Besides its own prefixes (HLCU, HLXU, HLBU) it keeps those of UASC (UACU, UASU), the line it absorbed in 2017.
Hapag-Lloyd container prefixes: HLCU, HLXU, HLBU, UACU, UASU. The four letters are the owner code registered with the BIC; that is why the tracker infers the carrier without you choosing it.
Hapag-Lloyd container tracking in three steps
- Go to tracker.flettia.com and type the full number: four letters and seven digits. If the check digit doesn't add up, it warns you before searching.
- The tracker recognises the Hapag-Lloyd prefix and queries its data.
- You see the route on the map, the current status, the estimated or actual arrival date at the final port and the timeline with normalised milestones: loaded on board, departure, arrival, discharge and gate out.
How Hapag-Lloyd publishes its data
- Hapag-Lloyd publishes the equipment's ISO code (size and type) and events with date and time, and reports locations by name rather than code. The tracker converts those names into ports it can place on the map.
- Voyages with transshipment show as two departures and two arrivals, each with its date; that is where estimates tend to move the most.
- Estimated dates change with the vessel schedule; the tracker shows the latest one Hapag-Lloyd published.
What to watch
Two dates matter more than the rest: discharge at the destination port, where free days usually start counting, and gate out, which confirms the container is on a truck. Seeing them the day they happen lets you schedule pickup before demurrage runs. Exact free time depends on your contract with the carrier and on the port.
Estimated dates are published by the carrier and can change with the vessel schedule. The tracker shows the latest one published; it does not promise it will hold.
Frequently asked questions
Is UACU a Hapag-Lloyd prefix?
Yes. UACU and UASU come from UASC and are looked up in Hapag-Lloyd's system today.
Do I need the Hapag-Lloyd booking number?
No. The container number is enough; booking and BL numbers are not search keys in the tracker.
Can I track with the BL or booking number?
Not today. The tracker searches by container number; the BL lists the container numbers in the “Container No.” field.
Track your Hapag-Lloyd container now
Your first search is free, no sign-up. Type the number and we tell you where it is going: route on a map, status, arrival date and every move.