CAIU → CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) · lessor prefix
CAIU 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.
4 letters + 7 digits, printed on the doors
CAIU check digit: worked example
C | A | I | U | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 10 | 19 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| ×1 | ×2 | ×4 | ×8 | ×16 | ×32 | ×64 | ×128 | ×256 | ×512 |
| 13 | 20 | 76 | 256 | 16 | 160 | 384 | 1024 | 1536 | 4096 |
Sum 7581 → 7581 mod 11 = 2 → check digit 2 → CAIU 156868-2
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 CAIU container prefix?
CAIU is registered to CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital), a container leasing company (lessor) — the BIC register lists it together with BEAU, BMOU, but the boxes sail in other lines' fleets.
Which line do I track a CAIU container with?
Not with CAI (Mitsubishi HC Capital) — a CAIU 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 CAIU number there.
Is CAIU 1568682 a valid container number?
Yes — CAIU 156868-2 passes ISO 6346 validation: the weighted letter-and-digit sum for CAIU156868 leaves remainder 2 mod 11, giving check digit 2. The worked table for this CAIU example is on this page.
Is CAIU a shipping line prefix or a leasing company prefix?
CAIU 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.