MEDU → MSC · carrier prefix
MEDU Container Tracking — MSC-Owned Prefix
Track on msc.com — official MSC tracker
MSC, the Geneva-based Mediterranean Shipping Company, runs the largest container fleet on the planet — over 800 vessels. Family-owned since 1970, it overtook Maersk for the #1 spot in 2022 and kept buying ships.
A fleet that size burns through serial numbers fast, which is why MSC registers eight owner codes; MSCU and MEDU carry most of the volume, with the rest of the family filling specialised pools.
4 letters + 7 digits, printed on the doors
MEDU check digit: worked example
M | E | D | U | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 15 | 14 | 32 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| ×1 | ×2 | ×4 | ×8 | ×16 | ×32 | ×64 | ×128 | ×256 | ×512 |
| 24 | 30 | 56 | 256 | 16 | 256 | 384 | 896 | 2048 | 3584 |
Sum 7550 → 7550 mod 11 = 4 → check digit 4 → MEDU 186787-4
MSC prefix family
Tracking with MSC
msc.com ignores tracking parameters in the URL (browser-verified), so open the tracker page and paste the number into the form.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the MEDU container prefix?
MEDU is registered to MSC, founded 1970 — one of 8 prefixes the line holds in the BIC register, alongside MSCU, MSDU, MSMU.
How do I track a MEDU container?
Track MEDU containers free on the official MSC tracker at msc.com — paste the full 11-character number (like the MEDU example on this page) and no account is needed.
Is MEDU 1867874 a valid container number?
Yes — MEDU 186787-4 passes ISO 6346 validation: the weighted letter-and-digit sum for MEDU186787 leaves remainder 4 mod 11, giving check digit 4. The worked table for this MEDU example is on this page.
Is MEDU a shipping line prefix or a leasing company prefix?
MEDU is a shipping-line (carrier) prefix — MSC both owns the boxes and moves them, so owner and tracker are the same company.