Owner prefix directory
Container owner prefix directory
Every shipping container carries a four-letter owner prefix — the first four letters of its ISO 6346 number. The first three letters are the owner code and the fourth is a category identifier (almost always U for freight containers). Because the owner code is registered to one company, those four letters tell you which line owns the box even before you look up the shipment.
This directory maps all 1411 owner prefixes we track to the 176 shipping lines that use them. Type a code or a carrier name to filter, then open that carrier to track your shipment — or paste your full number on the homepage and we’ll detect it for you.
All owner prefixes (1411)
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Frequently asked questions
- What is a container owner prefix?
- Every shipping container carries a four-letter owner prefix — the first four letters of its ISO 6346 number. The first three letters are the owner code and the fourth is a category identifier (almost always U for freight containers). Because the owner code is registered to one company, those four letters tell you which line owns the box even before you look up the shipment.
- How do I find out which shipping line a number belongs to?
- Read the leading letters of your number and look them up in the table below, or just paste the full number on our homepage — we recognise the owner prefix automatically and send you to the right shipping line's tracking page.
- Why does my number's owner prefix match a different carrier than expected?
- Cargo booked through a freight forwarder or partner often travels under another company's number, so the owner prefix reflects whoever issued the container — not always the line you booked with. Check your shipping paperwork for the issuing party.