BerthTime

ZIM tracking

ZIM container tracking

Track ZIM shipments by container number, booking number, or bill of lading. BerthTime shows the timeline and ETA next to your shipments with other carriers, and keeps them up to date.

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ZIM reference formats

Paste any of these references: BerthTime detects the type and the carrier. Carrier code (SCAC): ZIMU.

Container number
11 characters (ISO 6346): a 4-letter owner code ending in U, a 6-digit serial number and a check digit.
ZIM's own containers usually start with ZIMU.
Leased containers carry the lessor's owner code: choose ZIM as the carrier when you add one.
Bill of lading
ZIM master BL numbers usually look like this: ZIMU, a 3-letter office code, then 6 to 9 digits.
A BL brings in all the containers on it.
A house BL issued by a forwarder is not known to ZIM: use the master BL or the container numbers instead.
Booking number
Booking numbers work: BerthTime follows every container on the booking.
ZIM booking numbers usually look like this: ZIMU, a 3-letter office code, then 6 to 9 digits.

Data you get for ZIM shipments

  • Container events from empty pick-up and gate-in through loading, departure, transshipment and discharge to gate-out, with the arrival date at the port of discharge.
  • Vessel name and voyage for each sea leg, when ZIM gives them.
  • ZIM's ETA, with an email alert when the delay passes the threshold you set.
  • A predicted arrival computed from the vessel's AIS position, labelled as an estimate, when the vessel is identified and within AIS range.
  • Some ZIM events come with a date but no time of day; BerthTime shows them by day.
  • The same shipment data over the REST API and signed webhooks.

For ZIM, the bill of lading and the booking usually share the same number.

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Sample data: the demo shows what a tracked shipment looks like and does not query a carrier. Sign up to track your real shipments.

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Interactive demo with generated sample data. Sign up to track real shipments.

ZIM tracking: questions and answers

How do I track a ZIM container?

Paste the container number into BerthTime. 11 characters (ISO 6346): a 4-letter owner code ending in U, a 6-digit serial number and a check digit. ZIM's own containers usually start with ZIMU. Leased containers carry the lessor's owner code: choose ZIM as the carrier when you add one.

What does a ZIM bill of lading number look like?

ZIM master BL numbers usually look like this: ZIMU, a 3-letter office code, then 6 to 9 digits. A BL brings in all the containers on it. A house BL issued by a forwarder is not known to ZIM: use the master BL or the container numbers instead.

Can I track a ZIM booking number?

Booking numbers work: BerthTime follows every container on the booking. ZIM booking numbers usually look like this: ZIMU, a 3-letter office code, then 6 to 9 digits.

What tracking data does BerthTime show for ZIM?

Container events from empty pick-up and gate-in through loading, departure, transshipment and discharge to gate-out, with the arrival date at the port of discharge. A predicted arrival computed from the vessel's AIS position, labelled as an estimate, when the vessel is identified and within AIS range. Some ZIM events come with a date but no time of day; BerthTime shows them by day. For ZIM, the bill of lading and the booking usually share the same number.

Guides

Carriers we track today

All your ZIM shipments, one list

Add references one by one, in bulk, or through the API. BerthTime refreshes them for you.

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14-day free trial, up to 100 shipments, no card.