MSNU → MSC · carrier prefix
MSNU 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
MSNU check digit: worked example
M | S | N | U | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 30 | 25 | 32 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| ×1 | ×2 | ×4 | ×8 | ×16 | ×32 | ×64 | ×128 | ×256 | ×512 |
| 24 | 60 | 100 | 256 | 112 | 192 | 320 | 256 | 512 | 512 |
Sum 2344 → 2344 mod 11 = 1 → check digit 1 → MSNU 765221-1
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 MSNU container prefix?
MSNU is registered to MSC, founded 1970 — one of 8 prefixes the line holds in the BIC register, alongside MSCU, MEDU, MSDU.
How do I track a MSNU container?
Track MSNU containers free on the official MSC tracker at msc.com — paste the full 11-character number (like the MSNU example on this page) and no account is needed.
Is MSNU 7652211 a valid container number?
Yes — MSNU 765221-1 passes ISO 6346 validation: the weighted letter-and-digit sum for MSNU765221 leaves remainder 1 mod 11, giving check digit 1. The worked table for this MSNU example is on this page.
Is MSNU a shipping line prefix or a leasing company prefix?
MSNU is a shipping-line (carrier) prefix — MSC both owns the boxes and moves them, so owner and tracker are the same company.