Hapag-Lloyd has equipped 100,000 refrigerated containers with monitoring devices, marking a major step in its digitalisation push, reported Lookout Newsletter.

The rollout began in 2020 and now covers the lion's share of the company's reefer fleet. New containers are fitted with tracking systems at the factory, while existing units are upgraded during routine depot inspections.

Rotterdam leads installations with over 12,000 units, followed by Antwerp with 4,700 and Guayaquil with 4,300. The company aims to exceed 90 per cent coverage by August and complete the upgrade by year-end.

Data from the smart reefers is already helping teams manage up to 2,000 weekly incidents, improving cargo safety and reducing claims. In 2022, Hapag-Lloyd introduced Smart Pre-Trip Inspections to replace manual checks with digital diagnostics.

Commercial uptake of the Hapag-Lloyd LIVE service is growing. In February alone, customers activated it on more than 6,000 containers, with full-year sales expected to top 50,000 units.

The company is also retrofitting its 1.6 million dry containers with tracking devices. A customer product for standard boxes is due this year, with most of the fleet expected to be smart by end-2023.