BEAU → CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) · lessor prefix
BEAU Container Prefix — CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) (Leasing)
CAI International, now owned by Mitsubishi HC Capital, leases a diversified box fleet and folded in Beacon Intermodal’s containers after the 2023 merger.
Three codes mark CAI equipment — one original and two carried over from Beacon.
BEAU came from Beacon Intermodal, merged into CAI in 2023.
4 letters + 7 digits, printed on the doors
BEAU check digit: worked example
B | E | A | U | 9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 15 | 10 | 32 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
| ×1 | ×2 | ×4 | ×8 | ×16 | ×32 | ×64 | ×128 | ×256 | ×512 |
| 12 | 30 | 40 | 256 | 144 | 256 | 448 | 384 | 512 | 3584 |
Sum 5666 → 5666 mod 11 = 1 → check digit 1 → BEAU 987327-1
CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) prefix family
Owner vs operator: the CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) case
CAI equipment carries no tracking of its own; the operating line named in your booking holds the milestones.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the BEAU container prefix?
BEAU is registered to CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital), a container leasing company (lessor) — the BIC register lists it together with CAIU, BMOU, but the boxes sail in other lines' fleets.
Which line do I track a BEAU container with?
Not with CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) — a BEAU box is leased, so the tracking data lives with the shipping line named on your booking confirmation or bill of lading; open that line's tracker and paste the BEAU number there.
Is BEAU 9873271 a valid container number?
Yes — BEAU 987327-1 passes ISO 6346 validation: the weighted letter-and-digit sum for BEAU987327 leaves remainder 1 mod 11, giving check digit 1. The worked table for this BEAU example is on this page.
Is BEAU a shipping line prefix or a leasing company prefix?
BEAU is a leasing-company (lessor) prefix — CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) owns the steel box, while a shipping line operates it, which is why owner and tracker differ.