Shipment Tracking Guide

Container Tracking Status Meanings

Understand gate-in, loaded, departed, transshipment, discharged, available, delivered, and other common ocean container tracking events.

Container tracking statuses describe operational events reported by shipping lines and terminals. The location, timestamp, transport mode, and whether an event is actual or expected are as important as the status label itself.

Origin events

Origin events describe equipment release, stuffing, terminal entry, and loading before the main ocean movement.

Empty released: an empty container was made available for pickup.
Gate in full: the packed container entered the export terminal.
Loaded on vessel: the carrier reports loading for the next sea leg.
Departed: the vessel or shipment leg left the reported port.

Transit and transshipment events

An arrival or discharge at an intermediate port is not final delivery. Compare the event location with the booked destination.

Arrived: the vessel or shipment reached the reported port.
Discharged: the container was unloaded from the vessel.
Transshipment: the container is transferring to another vessel or service.
Loaded after transshipment: the next ocean leg has started.

Destination events

Destination completion normally requires more than a vessel arrival.

Discharged at destination: unloaded from the final vessel.
Available: terminal or carrier reports cargo availability, subject to holds.
Gate out: the container left the terminal.
Delivered: carrier reports final delivery or handover completion.

Frequently asked questions

Does “arrived” mean my container was delivered?

No. It can describe arrival at a transshipment port or destination port. Look for a final delivery, gate-out, or equivalent completion event.

Why are expected events shown before actual events?

Carrier schedules can publish expected movements in advance. Actual events confirm that the physical operation was reported as completed.