OOCL tracking

Container maritime transport from Hong Kong

Orient Overseas Container Line, better known by the acronym OOCL, is a global container shipping company and logistics services provider. Based in Hong Kong, the company operates on all continents and is among the leaders in containerized maritime transport. It provides regular connections between the world's largest ports and offers integrated logistics solutions to businesses to transport their goods from end to end. Professional and neutral, OOCL has built a solid reputation in the industry thanks to the reliability of its services and its innovative approach to the supply chain.

Founded more than half a century ago, OOCL presents itself as "a vital link in global trade," highlighting its central role in the globalization of exchanges. The company is part of the Orient Overseas - International Limited - OOIL group listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and since the late 2010s, it has been integrated into the Chinese conglomerate COSCO Shipping, while maintaining its own identity and continuity of services for customers.

OOCL - History of container shipping and innovations

OOCL's origins date back to the late 1940s when shipowner C. Y. Tung founded the Orient Overseas Line in Hong Kong. In the late 1960s, the company played a pioneering role in Asia by adopting containerization for international freight transport. It became one of the first Asian companies to cross the Pacific with a container ship, marking a turning point in the history of maritime trade. This advancement led the company to rename itself Orient Overseas Container Line, reflecting its focus on container transport.

Over the following decades, OOCL experienced sustained growth and expanded its activities globally. During the 1970s, the company even experimented with operating a few passenger ships on international routes before abandoning this to focus on container freight. However, in the mid-1980s, the company faced a severe financial crisis that brought it to the brink of bankruptcy. Its rescue was made possible by the intervention of Hong Kong and Chinese partners, including the Bank of China and other public investors, allowing OOCL to regain its stability. Subsequently, the company's management remained within the founding family until the late 1990s, ensuring continuity of its strategic vision.

In the late 2010s, OOCL became part of the China COSCO Shipping group, one of the world's largest maritime conglomerates. This acquisition is part of the consolidation movement in the maritime transport sector. Despite its subsidiary status, OOCL retains its brand, its headquarters in Hong Kong, and a large degree of operational autonomy. The company continues to operate independently while benefiting from the synergy and network power offered by the COSCO group. This acquisition allowed COSCO to strengthen its international presence while maintaining OOCL's expertise and corporate culture.

OOCL's global operational network and maritime services

OOCL has an extensive operational network on a global scale. With offices in more than sixty countries and agencies in major port sorting centers, the company is present in all major markets. Its network covers Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Australasia, offering truly global reach. OOCL provides regular maritime services on major East-West routes (notably between Asia and Europe, as well as between Asia and North America - Transpacific) and on North-South and intra-regional routes. It connects hundreds of ports, from the largest international terminals to secondary ports, thanks to an efficient network combining main ocean lines and regional feeder connections.

OOCL's fleet consists of modern container ships of various sizes, adapted to the needs of different shipping lines. These vessels, among the most recent and efficient in the industry, contribute to the network's reliability by ensuring safe and timely transport of cargo. Some ships are designed to operate in specific conditions - for example, reinforced ships for cold waters, allowing OOCL to serve regions with extreme climatic conditions. Furthermore, the company is actively committed to improving its energy efficiency and environmental footprint by adopting eco-friendly technologies and participating in maritime sustainability initiatives.

Commercially, OOCL is a member of a leading maritime alliance. Alongside partner companies such as COSCO Shipping, CMA CGM, and Evergreen, it participates in the alliance called OCEAN Alliance, one of the largest shipping cooperations in the world. This international alliance allows for pooling resources - ships, services, and stops to offer customers expanded coverage and more frequent departures on many routes. By integrating into this global partnership, OOCL enhances the flexibility and reach of its network while maintaining its own service standards. OOCL's operational network, combined with these collaborations, makes it a major player capable of effectively connecting production and consumption centers worldwide.

OOCL services - Maritime transport and integrated logistics

As a line shipowner, OOCL primarily offers container shipping services on regular routes. The company organizes weekly or multi-weekly departures on its main routes, providing customers with reliable shipping solutions for both import and export. OOCL's services cover the entire maritime transport chain, from booking space on board ships to delivery at the destination port, including real-time shipment tracking. Through centralized management of ship rotations and schedules, OOCL manages to ensure the continuity of goods flows and minimize port turnaround times.

Beyond pure maritime transport, OOCL stands out with an expanded logistics offering through its subsidiary OOCL Logistics. This dedicated branch allows the company to provide integrated supply chain services. Specifically, OOCL Logistics handles services such as order and warehouse management, cargo consolidation and deconsolidation, inland distribution, and freight forwarding. Whether coordinating multimodal transport, managing customs formalities, or optimizing inventory, OOCL's logistics offering aims to support customers from end to end. Relying on a global network of partners and its local expertise in many countries, OOCL can organize tailor-made solutions, whether it involves shipping a single container or managing complex logistics chains for large industrial companies.

Furthermore, OOCL has invested in digital services to facilitate information exchange and transparency for its customers. The company provides online tools and dedicated platforms (for example, an internal customer portal called My OOCL Center) allowing for electronic bookings, real-time shipment tracking, and access to dematerialized documentation - electronic bills of lading, invoicing, etc. A mobile application also complements this system to manage shipments on the go. These digital solutions, developed by OOCL, demonstrate its commitment to innovation and improving the customer experience. They offer time savings and visibility on operations while reducing paper use and increasing administrative efficiency.

To complement its offering, OOCL also provides additional services such as cargo insurance - protection of goods during transit, regulatory consulting, and assistance with international administrative procedures. By offering these ancillary services in addition to its core business, the company aims to simplify formalities for its customers and secure every step of the logistics chain. With this approach, a shipper can entrust OOCL with their entire export or import project, from transport planning to insurance and customs compliance issues, with the assurance of unified and professional follow-up.

Logistics specialties - OOCL's tailor-made solutions

Over time, OOCL has specialized in several advanced logistics areas to meet the specific needs of certain cargoes. One of its recognized specialties is refrigerated transport. The company has a large fleet of refrigerated containers - reefers and masters the logistics of the cold chain. Whether it is perishable food products, tropical fruits, temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, or other goods requiring a controlled environment, OOCL offers reliable isothermal transport solutions. Advanced technologies, such as controlled atmosphere systems in containers, help extend the freshness of products throughout the maritime and land journey. OOCL has even been a pioneer in some innovative services, such as transporting refrigerated containers by train in China, demonstrating its ability to break away from traditional patterns to ensure the continuity of the cold chain.

Another area of expertise for OOCL is the transport of dangerous goods. The company is authorized to handle regulated cargoes - chemicals, flammable materials, pressurized gases, etc. in compliance with current international safety standards. Its staff is trained to handle, store, and transport these materials safely, minimizing risks to people, port infrastructure, and the environment. OOCL offers comprehensive assistance for loading dangerous goods containers, proper labeling, preparation of specific documents, and coordination with competent port and customs authorities. This mastery of procedures allows shippers to transit sensitive goods in full compliance and peace of mind.

OOCL has also built a reputation in the transport of special and oversized cargo. With suitable equipment and rigorous planning, the company can handle bulky or very heavy packages that exceed the standard dimensions of a container. For example, OOCL organizes the shipment of industrial machinery, special vehicles, project structures - generators, plant elements, and even the transport of luxury yachts. For such operations, the company mobilizes open-top containers, platforms, or other specific solutions and creates custom stowage and securing plans. The logistics coordination often includes feasibility studies, obtaining special permits, and using appropriate lifting equipment in ports. By offering these specialized services, OOCL positions itself as a partner capable of taking on complex logistics challenges beyond simple standard container transport.

Finally, OOCL's logistics approach is marked by adaptation to sectoral needs. The company has developed dedicated solutions for various industrial sectors, leveraging the expertise of OOCL Logistics. Whether for textiles and fashion, consumer goods, automotive, chemicals, or electronics, OOCL knows how to adjust its services - packaging, deadlines, specific tracking to the requirements of each industry. This versatility demonstrates OOCL's commitment to providing personalized and high-quality customer service, drawing on its accumulated expertise in multiple logistics fields.

OOCL's environmental commitment and technological innovations

Environmentally, OOCL strives to minimize the carbon footprint of its maritime and logistics activities. The company strictly adheres to international regulations aimed at reducing ship pollution - reducing the sulfur content of fuels, CO2 emission standards, etc. It also explores the use of alternative marine fuels - such as liquefied natural gas and deploys innovations such as antifouling hull coatings to reduce fuel consumption, demonstrating its willingness to go beyond regulatory requirements. These efforts are part of a global sustainable transport approach, where economic efficiency rhymes with ecological responsibility. OOCL regularly communicates on its environmental performance through sustainability reports and has been repeatedly recognized by the industry for its green initiatives. For example, the company has been among the winners of Asian awards recognizing the "best eco-friendly shipping company," demonstrating its ongoing commitment to cleaner shipping.

At the same time, technological innovation is a pillar of OOCL's strategy to improve the quality and efficiency of its services. A pioneer in adopting new information technologies, the company was one of the first in the industry to develop comprehensive digital platforms for shipment management. Internally, OOCL uses advanced computer systems to optimize ship loading plans, track container positions in real-time, and anticipate potential delays due to contingencies - weather, port congestion. It has also experimented with blockchain solutions to secure and simplify the exchange of transport documents, notably electronic bills of lading, between different stakeholders. OOCL is also involved in collaborative maritime transport digitization initiatives in partnership with other shipowners and ports, aiming to establish common standards for data exchange and improve visibility across the entire logistics chain. Moreover, the digitization of customs and administrative processes via its platforms reduces the risk of errors and speeds up the transit of goods.

Finally, OOCL integrates the dimension of safety and security into its innovations. The company's "Safety, Security & Environment" - SSE policy ensures that each technological advancement is accompanied by guarantees in terms of protecting people, cargo, and the environment. For example, onboard sensors and monitoring systems allow real-time detection of anomalies on ships or inside containers - temperature variations, shocks, unauthorized openings, to immediately trigger corrective measures. The company regularly trains its teams on new tools and procedures, creating a corporate culture focused on continuous improvement. Thanks to this balance between technological innovation and operational rigor, OOCL manages to increase its competitiveness while maintaining a high level of reliability and security in the delivery of goods.

Modes of transport - FCL, LCL, intermodal and integrated solutions

In the field of containerized freight, OOCL handles different shipping modes depending on the volume of goods and customer needs. The FCL mode - Full Container Load, or full container applies when a shipper reserves the entire container for their cargo. In other words, the entire container is used exclusively by a single shipment. This mode is particularly suitable for large shipments or companies that ship enough goods to fill an entire container. With OOCL's FCL services, the customer benefits from dedicated space, sealed from end to end, reducing the risk of damage or mixing of goods during the journey. The FCL container, once loaded at the shipper's or warehouse, is transported directly to the final recipient without the need for further consolidation.

Conversely, the LCL mode - Less than Container Load, often called "maritime groupage," is offered for smaller shipments that do not justify the use of an entire container. In this case, several shipments from different shippers are grouped within the same container. OOCL, through its logistics division, organizes this grouping by consolidating compatible goods in a container, thus optimizing space and transport costs for each customer. This LCL service allows smaller volume shippers to access international maritime networks without bearing the cost of a full container. Once the groupage container arrives at the destination port, the lots are deconsolidated to be delivered to each recipient. Throughout the process, OOCL ensures the tracking of each lot of goods, guaranteeing traceability and security despite the shared space.

In addition, OOCL relies on intermodal transport to offer maximum reach to containerized shipments. Intermodality involves combining several modes of transport (maritime, rail, river, and road) to transport containers from the place of origin to the final destination, including beyond ports. Thus, once unloaded from a ship, an OOCL container can continue its journey by train or truck to inland cities or industrial areas far from the coasts. OOCL has developed a vast intermodal network by relying on partnerships with rail operators and road carriers in many countries. For example, in North America, the company works closely with major railway companies to quickly move containers from ports to the interior of the continent.

In Europe and Asia, OOCL also integrates river barges and dedicated trains into its logistics scheme to connect major ports to inland terminals. With this approach, OOCL offers true door-to-door transport solutions, where the customer can ship their cargo from their production site to the final recipient's warehouse, without load break and with a single point of contact. Intermodality not only extends the geographical reach of OOCL's maritime network but also improves the overall efficiency of the transport chain by reducing delays and optimizing costs on land routes.