MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper

What does MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper do?

MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper is an Apify actor that extracts real-time shipment tracking data from MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company), the world's largest container shipping line. Simply enter your tracking numbers — container numbers, B/L (Bill of Lading) numbers, or booking numbers — and the scraper automatically detects the type, queries the MSC tracking system, and returns structured shipment data ready for analysis or integration.

No coding experience is needed. Paste your numbers, click Start, and download the results in JSON, CSV, Excel, or other formats.

Why scrape MSC shipment data?

Manually checking the MSC website for container tracking updates is time-consuming, especially when managing multiple shipments across different routes. This actor automates MSC cargo tracking so you can:

• 📦 Monitor shipment status — Get real-time container movements, vessel calls, ports and status updates
• 🔄 Track in bulk — Track hundreds of containers, B/L numbers, or booking references in a single run
• 📊 Feed data into dashboards — Export structured tracking data to Google Sheets, Slack, email, or your own systems via Apify integrations
• ⏰ Set up automated tracking — Schedule periodic runs to monitor shipment progress without manual checks
• 🔗 Build logistics pipelines — Use the Apify API to integrate MSC tracking data into your supply chain management tools

What data can you extract from MSC?

The scraper extracts the following data points from MSC's tracking system:

Data Field	Description	Availability
Tracking Number	The number you submitted	Always
Tracking Type	Detected number type (Container, BillOfLading, or Booking)	Always
Bill of Lading Number	B/L reference for each shipment behind the number	Always
Shipped From / To	Origin and final destination	Always
Port of Load / Discharge	Loading and discharge ports	Always
Transshipments	Intermediate transshipment ports on the route	When applicable
ETA	Estimated arrival date at the final port of discharge	When available
Container Movements	Every event per container — empty pickup, gate-in/out, load, discharge, import — with date, location, UN/LOCODE and description	Always
Vessel & Terminal	Vessel (IMO/flag) and handling terminal for each movement	When applicable

Ready-to-Run Examples

Get started in seconds — open an example in the Apify Console and click Run:

• Track MSC Containers by Container Number — track MSC containers by container number and export shipment status, vessel, voyage, route, ETA, container details, and events.
• Track Multiple MSC Shipments in Bulk — track hundreds of shipments by container, B/L, or booking numbers in a single run and export structured cargo tracking data to JSON or CSV.
• Track MSC Shipments by B/L Number — track MSC shipments by Bill of Lading number and extract route, vessel, voyage, containers, latest status, ETA, and movement events.
• Track MSC Cargo by Booking Number — track MSC cargo by booking number and collect shipment route, vessel, voyage, container details, ETA, latest status, and events.

How to track MSC shipments step by step

1. Go to the MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper on Apify Store
2. Click Try for free to open the actor in the Apify Console
3. Enter your tracking numbers in the Tracking Numbers field — one per line. Container numbers (e.g., MSCU0203658), B/L numbers, and booking numbers are all accepted; the type is detected automatically
4. Click Start to run the scraper
5. When the run finishes, preview the results in the Output tab, or download them as JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, HTML, or RSS

Example input

{
  "trackingNumbers": [
    "MSCU0203658"
  ]
}

MSC tracking input parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Default	Description
trackingNumbers	Array of strings	✅ Yes	—	The numbers to track. Container numbers, B/L numbers, and booking numbers are all accepted; the type is detected automatically.

MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper output example

Each tracked number produces one structured item in the dataset. Here is an example of the output when tracking a container number:

{
  "tracking_number": "MSCU0203658",
  "tracking_type": "Container",
  "bill_of_ladings": [
    {
      "BillOfLadingNumber": "MEDUEZ472303",
      "NumberOfContainers": 1,
      "GeneralTrackingInfo": {
        "ShippedFrom": "MELBOURNE, AU",
        "ShippedTo": "HONG KONG, HK",
        "PortOfLoad": "MELBOURNE, AU",
        "PortOfDischarge": "HONG KONG, HK",
        "Transshipments": [],
        "FinalPodEtaDate": ""
      },
      "ContainersInfo": [
        {
          "Events": [
            {
              "Order": 5,
              "Date": "10/04/2026",
              "Location": "HONG KONG, HK",
              "UnLocationCode": "HKHKG",
              "Description": "Empty received at CY",
              "Detail": ["EMPTY"],
              "EquipmentHandling": { "Name": "RTT CSL", "Bic": "HKHKGCSYT" },
              "Vessel": { "IMO": "", "Flag": "", "FlagName": "" }
            },
            {
              "Order": 3,
              "Date": "02/04/2026",
              "Location": "HONG KONG, HK",
              "UnLocationCode": "HKHKG",
              "Description": "Import Discharged from Vessel",
              "Detail": ["LADEN"]
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

The actual output includes every bill of lading and container on the shipment with the full movement history. The example above is shortened for clarity. You can download the complete dataset in JSON, CSV, Excel, and other formats from the Output tab.

Integrations and MSC tracking API

MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper is built on the Apify platform, which gives you powerful options to automate and integrate your cargo tracking workflow:

• API access — Call the actor programmatically via the Apify API to track shipments from your own applications
• Scheduled runs — Set up scheduled recurring runs to monitor shipment progress daily, hourly, or at any interval
• Webhooks — Receive notifications when a tracking run finishes so you can trigger downstream processes
• Integrations — Connect tracking results to Google Sheets, Slack, Zapier, Make, and many more
• Data formats — Download results in JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, HTML, or RSS

This makes MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper a drop-in solution for supply chain management systems, logistics dashboards, and automated shipping notifications.

Frequently asked questions

Is it legal to scrape MSC?

Our scrapers are ethical and do not extract any private user data. They only extract publicly available shipment tracking information that any visitor can access on the MSC website. We therefore believe that our scrapers, when used for ethical purposes by Apify users, are safe. However, you should be aware that your results could contain data related to commercial shipments. If you're unsure about your use case, consult your legal team.

Can I track multiple shipments at once?

Yes. Enter as many tracking numbers as you need in the Tracking Numbers field — one per line. The scraper processes them in parallel batches for maximum speed and uses automatic IP rotation to handle rate limits.

What types of tracking numbers are supported?

The scraper accepts three types of numbers and detects the type automatically — no manual selection needed:

• Container numbers — ISO 6346 format (4 letters + 7 digits, e.g., MSCU0203658)
• B/L (Bill of Lading) numbers — MSC B/L reference numbers
• Booking numbers — MSC booking reference numbers

What if a tracking number is not found?

If a number returns no tracking data from MSC's system, the scraper logs a warning and skips it. You are not charged for numbers that return no results.

How do I get support or report issues?

If you encounter any issues or have questions about the MSC Cargo Tracking Scraper, you can:

• Open an issue on the Issues tab of the actor page
• Reach out to the developer for a custom solution based on your specific tracking needs

We welcome all feedback and feature requests!