Australia guide · Maersk · Sydney
How to track Maersk containers into Sydney (Port Botany)
Track a Maersk container into Sydney with its Maersk bill of lading, booking number or container number. Maersk's own tracking covers the voyage. Terminal49 puts Maersk's milestones and the Port Botany terminal's data in one place, so you see availability, holds, fees and the storage start date where the terminal reports them.
That means one login instead of the Maersk site plus a Patrick, DP World or Hutchison portal. The free plan tracks up to 10 active containers at a time for up to 3 users, with 50 document credits and no credit card.
Updated
Step 1
Pick the number to track
Bill of lading (best)
Use the Maersk bill of lading from your arrival notice. One bill of lading can cover several containers, and Terminal49 tracks them all from that one number.
Booking number
Use it before the bill of lading is issued, for example while the box is still being packed at origin.
Container number
Four letters and seven digits, such as MSKU or MAEU followed by the serial. Use it when you only have the box number from your supplier.
Step 2
The milestones to expect, from Maersk to the terminal
- 01
Booked and loaded at origin
Carrier
Maersk reports the empty collected for packing, the full container gated in, the container loaded on board and the vessel departing.
- 02
Transhipment
Carrier
Many boxes into Australia change ships at a hub port on the way. Only Maersk reports this leg. A terminal never sees it.
- 03
Arrives Port Botany
Carrier + AIS
Maersk reports the ETA and arrival. Live vessel positions (AIS) show if the ship is running late before the schedule changes.
- 04
Discharged
Terminal + carrier
The container comes off the ship. From here the terminal holds the data that decides when you can collect it.
- 05
Holds cleared
Terminal
Customs (ABF) and biosecurity (DAFF) holds must both clear. Terminal49 shows each hold the terminal reports, labelled by type.
- 06
Available for pickup
Terminal
The terminal marks the box available. Free storage time starts here, not at pickup, and the storage start date follows.
- 07
Gate out full
Terminal + carrier
The truck or train takes the container out of the terminal. Terminal49 tracks to wharf gate-out.
- 08
Empty returned
Carrier
The empty is dehired at the container park Maersk nominates. Terminal49 shows this milestone when Maersk reports it.
Step 3
Know which Port Botany terminal has your box
Port Botany has three container terminals, run by Patrick, DP World and Hutchison. Maersk notices show its services and single voyages moving between all three, often during industrial action or berth delays. Always check the terminal on your arrival notice, or the terminal Terminal49 shows for the container.
| Terminal | Maersk at this terminal | What Terminal49 receives |
|---|---|---|
| DP World SydneyDP World Australia | Maersk moved its Southern Star service here from Patrick in September 2020 to protect its schedule. | Import milestones, discharge and the storage start date. Availability and holds are not confirmed yet, so check the coverage table for the latest. |
| Patrick Sydney AutoStrad TerminalPatrick Terminals | Maersk has sent single voyages here, for example Maersk Rio India in October 2023. | Holds, fees, pickup appointment, gate-out and on-rail. Availability is partial. Storage date and discharge are not supported yet. |
| Hutchison SICTHutchison Ports | Maersk has sent single voyages here, for example Herta in November 2024. | Availability, storage start date, fees, pickup appointment, yard location, discharge, gate-out and empty return. Holds are partial. |
Terminal data fields differ by terminal and can change. See the terminal coverage table for every field, and global coverage for carriers and ports.
Step 4
Watch the delays and charges in Port Botany
- Storage
- The terminal charges storage when a full container stays on the wharf past its free time, usually about three working days from availability. The rate steps up the longer it stays. Terminal49 shows the storage start date where the terminal reports it.
- Detention
- Maersk charges detention when the empty is not dehired within its free days. Free days depend on your contract, so check your arrival notice. Terminal49 shows the empty-return milestone when Maersk reports it. It does not show a dehire-by date today.
- Terminal access charges
- Stevedores charge transport operators a fee per container to enter the terminal. Your trucking company usually passes it on, so it shows up on your cartage invoice.
- VBS slots
- Trucks need a Vehicle Booking System (VBS) slot to collect a container. After a big vessel, slots can run short, which pushes pickup closer to the storage start date. Knowing early that a box is available gives your trucking company more time to book one.
- Biosecurity inspections
- A biosecurity direction, such as a tailgate inspection, adds time and cost. In the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) season, September to April, more containers from target countries need treatment or checks.
- Empty park queues
- Sydney empty parks can get busy, which makes dehiring on time harder. Plan the empty return as soon as the box is available, not after it is unpacked.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I track a Maersk container into Sydney?
- Enter the Maersk bill of lading, booking number or container number in Terminal49. You get Maersk's voyage milestones plus the Port Botany terminal's data, such as availability, holds and the storage start date, in one view. You can start on the free plan.
- Which Port Botany terminal handles Maersk containers?
- It changes. Maersk's notices show its services and single voyages using DP World Sydney, Patrick and Hutchison at different times. Your arrival notice names the terminal, and Terminal49 shows it for each container.
- Which Port Botany terminals does Terminal49 connect to?
- Terminal49 connects to Patrick Sydney AutoStrad, DP World Sydney and Hutchison SICT. What each terminal shares differs: Hutchison shares the most, including availability and the storage start date. See the terminal coverage table for each field.
- When does storage start on a Maersk container at Port Botany?
- Storage is charged by the terminal, not by Maersk. Free time usually runs about three working days from when the container becomes available, not from pickup. Terminal49 shows the storage start date where the terminal reports it.
- Does Terminal49 track Maersk containers railed from Port Botany?
- Terminal49 tracks to wharf gate-out, and some terminals also report when a box goes on rail. Tracking at inland terminals such as Moorebank is on the roadmap.
- Is it free to track Maersk containers into Sydney?
- Yes, for small volumes. The free plan tracks up to 10 active containers at a time for up to 3 users, with 50 document credits and no credit card. For more containers, pay-as-you-go has the same features as Essential, charged per container with no annual commitment.
Track your Maersk containers into Port Botany
Start free, no credit card. See free container tracking for what the free plan includes.