# MSC Container Tracking API & MCP

URL: https://docs.lastscanned.com/carriers/msc

Query live **MSC** (`msc`) shipping container moves in a single synchronous `GET` request or MCP tool call. Pass the container number; no booking, bill of lading or MSC account is needed.

## Overview & Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| **Carrier slug (`?carrier=`)** | `msc` |
| **Brand aliases** | MSC, Mediterranean Shipping Company, MSC Cargo, msc.com/track-a-shipment |
| **Category** | Ocean container shipping line |
| **Single-container REST endpoint** | `GET https://api.lastscanned.com/v1/track/{containerNumber}` |
| **Batch REST endpoint** | `GET https://api.lastscanned.com/v1/track?numbers=MEDU1234562,MSCU6789016` |
| **MCP server (`https://mcp.lastscanned.com/mcp`)** | `track_package`, `track_packages`, `list_carriers` |
| **Authentication & pricing** | `Authorization: Bearer lsk_live_...` · 1 free keyless lookup/day per IP |

## Container Number Format & Auto-Detection

| Pass | Rule / Regex | Check Digit | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Pass 1 (`matches`)** | `/^(MSCU\|MEDU\|MSDU\|MSMU\|MSNU\|MSBU)\d{7}$/` | ISO 6346 | `MEDU1234562` · `MSCU6789016` · `MSNU1234560` |
| **Pass 2 (`mayMatch`)** | none | none | none |

A container number is the owner's 4-letter code, 6 digits and an ISO 6346 check digit. MSC's own owner codes detect to `msc` automatically. A leased container (Textainer `TGHU`, Triton `TCNU`, CAI `CAIU`, SeaCo `SEGU` and others) can sail with any line, so pass `?carrier=msc` for one booked with MSC.

## Synchronous `GET` Request & Normalized JSON Response

```bash
curl -s "https://api.lastscanned.com/v1/track/MEDU1234562" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $LASTSCANNED_API_KEY"
```

The response below is a real lookup from November 2026, with its events cut to the newest four of 11.

```json
{
  "carrier": "msc",
  "trackingNumber": "MEDU1234562",
  "status": "in_transit",
  "statusDescription": "Full Transshipment Loaded, Msc Desiree UK642A",
  "service": "20' DRY VAN",
  "deliveredAt": null,
  "deliveredAtLocal": null,
  "signedBy": null,
  "destination": {
    "city": "Montreal",
    "state": null,
    "country": "CA"
  },
  "estimatedDelivery": "2026-11-21",
  "message": "Bill of lading MEDUKU746112",
  "events": [
    {
      "timestamp": null,
      "localTime": "2026-11-06",
      "status": "in_transit",
      "description": "Full Transshipment Loaded, Msc Desiree UK642A",
      "location": "Busan, KR",
      "code": "Full Transshipment Loaded"
    },
    {
      "timestamp": null,
      "localTime": "2026-11-05",
      "status": "in_transit",
      "description": "Full Transshipment Positioned In",
      "location": "Busan, KR",
      "code": "Full Transshipment Positioned In"
    },
    {
      "timestamp": null,
      "localTime": "2026-11-05",
      "status": "in_transit",
      "description": "Full Transshipment Positioned Out",
      "location": "Busan, KR",
      "code": "Full Transshipment Positioned Out"
    },
    {
      "timestamp": null,
      "localTime": "2026-11-04",
      "status": "in_transit",
      "description": "Full Transshipment Discharged, Msc Lorena HI639R",
      "location": "Busan, KR",
      "code": "Full Transshipment Discharged"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Notes

- **Source**: the tracking JSON msc.com's own page requests. Akamai refuses it from servers, so it is fetched from inside a browser session on msc.com; one session serves a whole batch.
- **Events**: every move on the container's bill of lading, transshipments included, with the vessel and voyage. MSC's estimated arrival is left out of the events and returned as `estimatedDelivery`.
- **Times**: MSC gives dates without a time of day, so `localTime` is a date (`2026-11-06`) and `timestamp` is null.
- **Bill of lading**: `message` names the bill the container sails under.
- **Status**: `Empty to Shipper` is `label_created`, `Import to consignee` is `out_for_delivery`, and `Empty received at CY` is `delivered`. A container MSC lists as `Off Service` is `not_found`.

## Related Resources

- **All container lines**: [Ocean container tracking](/container-tracking-api)
- **Regex & check digits**: [Tracking number formats & auto-detection](/formats)