MSC tracking
How to track my MSC package?
Ordertracker provides a simple solution to track your MSC packages. To begin, you'll need a MSC tracking number provided by the sender or the retailer.
Enter your tracking number in the above field and hit "enter." Our tracker will then fetch the latest tracking details for your package.
You'll see a timeline showing your package's journey, including its current location, transit history, and expected delivery date. This keeps you informed about your MSC package in real time.
Where can I find my MSC tracking number?
Finding your MSC tracking number is usually simple. When you buy an item online or send a package, the tracking number is typically given by the online store or sender. If you're the recipient, the sender often provides it via email, text, or on the order confirmation page.
For online purchases, log in to your store account to find the tracking number in your order history or tracking section. You can also find it in shipping notifications sent to your email or phone.
Once you have the tracking number, you can easily use Ordertracker to monitor your package's progress. This tool shows your package's journey and estimated delivery date.
Why isn't my MSC package moving in the package tracking history?
Dealing with a MSC package that appears stuck in tracking can be frustrating. Yet, there are steps to tackle this. If you've been using Ordertracker and see no progress, start by being patient. Delays, like customs or logistical issues, can arise.
If the delay remains, contact MSC or the sender for specifics. They can offer insight or investigate. Keep your tracking number ready for a smoother process. Sometimes, misrouting or address errors cause delays. Confirm the details provided to you by the sender. Remember, MSC customer service or the sender can help resolve shipping delays.
When I track my MSC package, why does it show as "returned"?
If you're tracking your MSC package and it's marked as "returned", this usually means that the package has been sent back to the sender or the shipment origin location for a specific reason. There are a few common explanations for why a MSC package might be labeled as "returned":
An unclear or inaccurate address from sender or recipient might lead MSC to be unable to deliver, resulting in a return.
If multiple delivery attempts fail, MSC may return the package instead of holding it indefinitely.
If the recipient doesn't collect the package within a timeframe from a post office or delivery center, MSC might return it.
International packages can be return due to customs problems like missing or incorrect documents.
If your MSC package is "returned" in tracking, contact the sender or MSC customer service. This clarifies the return reason and lets you explore solutions like resending or refunding. Please note that return procedures can vary based on MSC policies and circumstances.
Why does the MSC parcel tracking timeline indicate that my order cannot be found?
When your MSC parcel tracking lacks information, it may indicate a "cannot be found" message. This happens for a few reasons:
Ensure your tracking number is accurate. Even a small mistake can prevent the system from recognizing your package.
Sometimes, tracking details might be slower to update in MSC system. Wait and check again later for potential updates.
If the package was recently sent, it might not be processed by MSC yet. Tracking should appear shortly.
About MSC
MSC, short for Mediterranean Shipping Company, is a global shipping and logistics company headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. With a vast network of over 500 offices in more than 155 countries, MSC offers a comprehensive range of maritime transportation services. The company operates a fleet of container ships and provides efficient and reliable shipping solutions for various industries worldwide. MSC is committed to sustainability and innovation, continuously striving to enhance its services and reduce its environmental impact.
How to contact MSC?
If you are experiencing issues with the delivery process managed by MSC, please do not hesitate to contact their customer support.
World's leading container carrier since 1970
The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is an international shipping company specializing in container transport. Founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte in Italy, the company is now a private enterprise owned by the Aponte family, with its headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland. Since 2022, MSC has become the world's leading container carrier, surpassing Maersk in both fleet size and freight capacity. In 2025, MSC operates approximately 900 ships with a capacity of about 5.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU), accounting for nearly 20% of the global container capacity. The group employs over 200,000 people internationally and serves more than 520 ports in over 155 countries through a network of 675 agencies and offices worldwide.
History of MSC
The company was established in 1970 in Naples when Captain Gianluigi Aponte purchased his first ship, launching a line to East Africa. During the 1970s-1980s, MSC gradually expanded its routes to Northern Europe, Africa, and the Indian Ocean. In 1978, the company moved its headquarters to Geneva, Switzerland. In 1988, the group entered the cruise sector by acquiring Lauro Lines, giving birth to the MSC Cruises subsidiary. MSC continued to grow its fleet: in 1994, it ordered its first new container ships (MSC Alexa and MSC Rafaela) to serve Asia and Northern Europe. In the 2000s, development intensified: in 2009, the MSC Pamela (capacity 9,000 TEU) was commissioned, and in 2015, the MSC Oscar (19,224 TEU) became the world's largest container ship. On January 6, 2022, MSC officially surpassed Maersk and established itself as the world's largest container company in TEU capacity. Alongside this expansion, MSC diversified its activities: in 2020, it acquired the African port terminals and rail transport of the Bolloré Group (5.7 billion euros) and in 2023, it took a majority stake in the cargo airline AlisCargo Airlines, equipped notably with a Boeing 777 cargo.
Fleet and capacity
MSC's fleet is predominantly composed of ultra-modern container ships. In March 2025, MSC operates approximately 900 cargo ships, with a total capacity of around 5.5 million TEU. This includes 609 owned ships and 291 chartered under long-term contracts, making it the world's largest container ship fleet. The group's overall capacity reaches nearly 6.5 million TEU, providing an advantage of about 1 million TEU over its main competitor. The largest ships in the fleet are next-generation mega-container ships: for example, the MSC Gülsün (2019) can carry 23,756 TEU, and the MSC Germany (commissioned in 2025) has 16,000 TEU while using liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion. Such investments allow MSC to offer high capacity and frequent rotations on major global ocean routes.
MSC Services
MSC offers a wide range of services focused on freight transport and logistics. Its core business remains container shipping, connecting major ports worldwide. Additionally, the company provides multimodal logistics services enabling "door-to-door" freight delivery: road, rail, intermodal transport, customs management, and warehousing are coordinated to optimize the supply chain. MSC also manages its own container terminals (in Singapore, Rotterdam, Long Beach, among others), facilitating quick handling and transshipment of cargo. In addition, MSC offers air freight services (via the AlisCargo subsidiary) and has logistics subsidiaries such as Africa Global Logistics for land transport in certain markets. The company also operates MSC Cruises, its maritime cruise branch, which is the third-largest player in the global cruise sector.
- Container shipping: operation of a vast fleet of container ships to transport goods between continents on all major international shipping routes.
- Multimodal logistics: door-to-door solutions combining road and rail transport with maritime transport, including customs management and warehousing for smooth goods delivery.
- Port operations: operation of container terminals to ensure the loading, unloading, and transshipment of containers at key ports in the MSC network.
- Air freight: transport of goods by plane - notably via AlisCargo Airlines acquired in 2023, which operates international cargo flights with Boeing 777s.
- Cruises: leisure sea voyages managed by the MSC Cruises subsidiary - the third-largest global cruise operator.
Geographical presence
MSC's global network is extremely extensive. The company has 675 offices in over 155 countries, serving more than 520 ports worldwide. This global presence covers all regions: in Europe (Benelux countries, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Eastern countries, etc.), in Asia (China, Japan, India, Singapore, etc.), in North and South America (United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, etc.), in Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Morocco, etc.), and in the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, etc.). This geographical presence allows it to offer comprehensive global coverage of major maritime corridors and ensure efficient connections between key international markets.
Company organization
MSC remains primarily an independent family business. The group is entirely controlled by the Aponte family. Gianluigi Aponte, the founder, is the principal shareholder and appointed his son Diego Aponte as group president in 2014. Today, Diego Aponte leads MSC's daily operations, accompanied by Soren Toft as chief executive officer since 2020. The headquarters has been located in Geneva, Switzerland, since 1978. This family managerial structure provides the company with great stability and a long-term strategy focused on global growth.
Transport and logistics modes
MSC offers integrated logistics solutions beyond sea transport. The Africa Global Logistics subsidiary (resulting from the acquisition of Bolloré Africa Logistics) provides land transport services (road and rail) in Africa, while in Europe and South America, subsidiaries like Medlog, Log-In, or WEC Lines organize rail and road freight. Thus, containers can transit by land to inland destinations after their port arrival. The new air freight segment (via AlisCargo Airlines) also allows goods to be shipped by plane on intercontinental routes. This combination of sea, land, and air transport optimizes the group's complete logistics and offers great flexibility to customers.
Technological innovation
MSC invests heavily in digitalization to improve the efficiency and transparency of its services. The company has developed powerful online booking and shipment tracking platforms and offers electronic services (eBL, e-invoicing, etc.) to simplify customer processes. According to its official website, MSC believes that digitalization makes maritime transport more efficient, safe, and sustainable. As a founding member of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), MSC contributes to establishing common standards for industry data standardization. Among the concrete innovations is advanced cargo tracking: MSC equips its "smart" containers with IoT sensors that collect real-time GPS position, temperature, and container door status. For refrigerated containers, MSC's iReefer system allows remote control and 24/7 monitoring of temperature and operation, ensuring the quality of transported fresh products.
Eco-responsible commitment
Aware of the environmental challenges of maritime transport, MSC is committed to the sector's energy transition. The company aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, focusing on direct emission reductions rather than external compensation. It has launched the "MSC Biofuel Solution" program, which provides sustainable biofuel (second generation, derived from used oils) to replace marine fuel and generate CO2 savings on cargo routes. In parallel, MSC deploys cleaner ships: several recent large container ships are powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) to significantly reduce air pollutants (sulfur, particles) and CO2 emissions compared to conventional engines. The company also develops other green initiatives: a dedicated carbon calculator for shipments, continuous improvement of ship energy efficiency, responsible recycling of decommissioned buildings, and compliance with international standards (Green Award, ISO 14001, etc.) for sustainable development.
| Tracking status | Description |
|---|---|
| Booking confirmed | The space request for the shipment has been accepted by MSC. This means that the container booking is confirmed for a future shipment. |
| Empty container picked up | The empty container has been picked up (by a trucker or agent) to be transported to the port or terminal for loading goods. |
| Gate in | The loaded (full) container has entered the port terminal premises (gate in). This status indicates that the full container is now registered at the loading terminal. |
| Loaded on vessel | The container has been loaded onto the vessel. The container is now part of the departing vessel's cargo. |
| Vessel departure | The vessel carrying the container has left the loading port. The maritime shipment is en route to its destination port. |
| Transshipment - in progress | The vessel is in transit. If a transshipment is planned, this indicates that the container will be transferred to another vessel during an intermediate stop. |
| Vessel arrival | The vessel has arrived at the destination port. The container is still on board, awaiting port operations. |
| Unloaded from vessel | The container has been unloaded from the vessel at the destination port. It is now available at the unloading terminal. |
| Full container out of terminal | The loaded container has left the destination port terminal. It is generally en route to the final delivery location (consignee). |
| Empty container returned | After cargo delivery, the empty container has been returned to the depot designated by MSC for reuse or repositioning. |
| Delivered to consignee | The container or its contents have been delivered to the final consignee. The shipping chain is complete, and the status indicates the completion of the delivery. |