# Maersk API

> Maersk returns container tracking, shipment milestones and vessel details as a workflow and API.

Maersk, also known as A.P. Moller–Maersk, returns container milestones, vessel details and estimated arrivals through Track container. Track container needs a container number, bill of lading number or booking number and returns shipment locations and container status.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/maersk
- Handle: `@maersk`
- Category: [Logistics](https://fous.com/tools/category/logistics)
- Source website: https://maersk.com
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Track container

Operation `track_container`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Track a Maersk ocean container or shipment by container, bill of lading or booking number. Returns publicly available container milestones, vessel details and estimated arrival; times are shown in the local time of each location when its time zone can be identified.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `reference` | string | yes | `"MSKU0235187"` | Container number, bill of lading number or booking number, for example MSKU0235187 or 276211578. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "reference"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "reference": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Container number, bill of lading number or booking number, for example MSKU0235187 or 276211578.",
      "examples": [
        "MSKU0235187",
        "276211578"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "reference": "MSKU0235187"
    },
    {
      "reference": "276211578"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `origin` | object |  |  |
| `origin.city` | string or null | `"Newark"` |  |
| `origin.country` | string or null | `"United States"` |  |
| `reference` | string | `"MSKU0235187"` |  |
| `containers` | array |  |  |
| `containers[].events` | array |  |  |
| `containers[].voyage` | string or null | `"639E"` |  |
| `containers[].vessel_name` | string or null | `"VANCOUVER STAR"` |  |
| `containers[].size_and_type` | string or null | `"40 ft high cube dry"` |  |
| `containers[].tracking_link` | string | `"https://www.maersk.com/tracking/MSKU0235187"` |  |
| `containers[].current_status` | string or null | `"Vessel departure"` |  |
| `containers[].last_known_time` | string or null | `"2026-09-23T11:27:00-04:00"` |  |
| `containers[].container_number` | string or null | `"MSKU0235187"` |  |
| `containers[].estimated_arrival` | string or null | `"2026-10-30T16:00:00+04:00"` |  |
| `containers[].last_known_location` | string or null | `"Newark, United States"` |  |
| `tracking_link` | string | `"https://www.maersk.com/tracking/MSKU0235187"` |  |
| `final_destination` | object |  |  |
| `final_destination.city` | string or null | `"Poti"` |  |
| `final_destination.country` | string or null | `"Georgia"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "reference": "MSKU0235187"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "origin": {
    "city": "Newark",
    "country": "United States"
  },
  "reference": "MSKU0235187",
  "containers": [
    {
      "events": [
        {
          "event": "Gate out empty",
          "vessel": null,
          "location": "Newark, United States",
          "date_time": "2026-09-17T10:21:00-04:00"
        },
        {
          "event": "Gate in",
          "vessel": null,
          "location": "Newark, United States",
          "date_time": "2026-09-17T12:28:00-04:00"
        },
        {
          "event": "Loaded on vessel",
          "vessel": "VANCOUVER STAR",
          "location": "Newark, United States",
          "date_time": "2026-09-23T01:23:00-04:00"
        }
      ],
      "voyage": "639E",
      "vessel_name": "VANCOUVER STAR",
      "size_and_type": "40 ft high cube dry",
      "tracking_link": "https://www.maersk.com/tracking/MSKU0235187",
      "current_status": "Vessel departure",
      "last_known_time": "2026-09-23T11:27:00-04:00",
      "container_number": "MSKU0235187",
      "estimated_arrival": "2026-10-30T16:00:00+04:00",
      "last_known_location": "Newark, United States"
    }
  ],
  "tracking_link": "https://www.maersk.com/tracking/MSKU0235187",
  "final_destination": {
    "city": "Poti",
    "country": "Georgia"
  }
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@maersk",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "track_container",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "reference": "MSKU0235187"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@maersk\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"track_container\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"reference\": \"MSKU0235187\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@maersk",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "track_container",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "reference": "MSKU0235187"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/maersk`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `track_container`: Track container. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-maersk https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/maersk --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Track container progress through shipment milestones
- Check a shipment’s vessel and voyage details
- Review estimated arrival and last known location
- Monitor container status by booking or bill of lading number

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Maersk tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Maersk account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from maersk.com when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### Where is my container now?

Track container returns the last known location and current status for a container, bill of lading or booking reference.

### When is my shipment expected to arrive?

Track container returns the estimated arrival for a supplied container, bill of lading or booking reference.

### Which vessel is carrying my shipment?

Track container returns vessel details and voyage information for a supplied shipment reference.

## Related

- [Parcels API](https://fous.com/tools/parcels.md): Worldwide package tracking with automatic carrier detection.
- [UPS API](https://fous.com/tools/ups.md): UPS ships and delivers packages, provides available tracking status and history, and estimates guest retail prices and delivery times, with end-of-day shown as 23:59 local time and counter prices varying.
- [VesselFinder API](https://fous.com/tools/vesselfinder.md): Public ship positions and vessel particulars.
- [DHL API](https://fous.com/tools/dhl.md): Track DHL shipments across its delivery services.
- [17TRACK API](https://fous.com/tools/17track.md): Worldwide parcel tracking across multiple carriers.
- [USPS API](https://fous.com/tools/usps.md): USPS provides latest available package tracking, standardized U.S. addresses with ZIP+4, recommended cities for five-digit ZIP Codes, and estimated domestic postage and delivery dates.
- [Freightos API](https://fous.com/tools/freightos.md): Ocean container freight rates by global index and trade lane.
- [FedEx API](https://fous.com/tools/fedex.md): Shipping and package tracking.
- [All Logistics tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/logistics)