Tracking · PIL
PIL tracking: how to track a container by its number
· 4 min read · Flettia team
If your container number starts with PCIU, PILU, it belongs to PIL. 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 PIL: its prefixes, how it publishes its data and what to look for on the timeline.
Who PIL is and which prefixes it uses
PIL (Pacific International Lines) is the Singapore carrier with services between Asia, Africa and Latin America. Its containers carry the PCIU and PILU prefixes.
PIL container prefixes: PCIU, PILU. The four letters are the owner code registered with the BIC; that is why the tracker infers the carrier without you choosing it.
PIL 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 PIL 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 PIL publishes its data
- PIL publishes two things separately: the legs of the voyage (vessel and ports) and the container's events. The tracker merges them into one timeline.
- PIL's events say whether the container was full or empty on each move, so empty pickup and empty return show clearly.
- PIL does not publish the container's size or type in its tracking; that label does not appear, but events and dates do.
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
Are PILU and PCIU the same carrier?
Yes. Both are PIL owner prefixes.
Does the tracker show the empty return of a PIL container?
Yes, once PIL records it: its events distinguish full and empty, and the tracker shows it as empty return.
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 PIL 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.