TCKU → Triton International · lessor prefix
TCKU Container Prefix — Triton International (Leasing)
Triton International is the world’s largest container lessor — roughly seven million TEU of boxes that it owns but never sails, renting them to nearly every major line.
Five codes mark Triton steel, and seeing one tells you who owns the box — never who is moving it.
TCKU is commonly misattributed to Maersk by tracking aggregators; the BIC register says Triton, a lessor.
4 letters + 7 digits, printed on the doors
TCKU check digit: worked example
T | C | K | U | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 13 | 21 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 9 |
| ×1 | ×2 | ×4 | ×8 | ×16 | ×32 | ×64 | ×128 | ×256 | ×512 |
| 31 | 26 | 84 | 256 | 64 | 64 | 384 | 128 | 768 | 4608 |
Sum 6413 → 6413 mod 11 = 0 → check digit 0 → TCKU 426139-0
Triton International prefix family
Owner vs operator: the Triton International case
A Triton-prefixed box in your booking means the line rented it that week; Triton’s own systems hold no voyage data at all.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the TCKU container prefix?
TCKU is registered to Triton International, a container leasing company (lessor) — the BIC register lists it together with TRLU, TCLU, TCNU, but the boxes sail in other lines' fleets.
Which line do I track a TCKU container with?
Not with Triton International — a TCKU 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 TCKU number there.
Is TCKU 4261390 a valid container number?
Yes — TCKU 426139-0 passes ISO 6346 validation: the weighted letter-and-digit sum for TCKU426139 leaves remainder 0 mod 11, giving check digit 0. The worked table for this TCKU example is on this page.
Is TCKU a shipping line prefix or a leasing company prefix?
TCKU is a leasing-company (lessor) prefix — Triton International owns the steel box, while a shipping line operates it, which is why owner and tracker differ.
Is TCKU a Maersk container prefix?
No — TCKU belongs to Triton International, a leasing company; aggregator sites that label TCKU as Maersk are repeating an old error, so track with the line on your booking.