Traxens joins IBM, Port of Rotterdam on 'Container 42' tracking project

Dive Brief:

Traxens, a container tracking company, has joined the consortium known as We Are 42, which has created a single connected container to showcase Internet of Things technology for cargo tracking.
The red shipping container emblazoned with a large white 42 on its side has been outfitted with sensors and will travel across the world for two years collecting data and showcasing the tracking technology.
Traxens says its sensors will track "vibration, acceleration, position and sound to local air pollution, temperature and humidity," according to a press release. It will also provide the chance to test its Traxens Hub technology, a portal for collecting IoT data.

Dive Insight:

Traxens is not the only company testing container technologies. Other partners on the Container 42 project include Intel, IBM, Cisco, the Port of Rotterdam and Esri.

Other technologies onboard the container will include the Intel Connected Logistics Platform and solar panels to power all of the devices. Part of the project will involve determining how much power is needed to keep technology on a connected container running throughout its journey.

The container officially launched in May and since then has been showcased in Münich, San Diego, Los Angeles and Rotterdam. The official "Stage 1 East" of the journey covers the third quarter of 2019 and will include stops in Shanghai, the Suez Channel and Barcelona.

Multiple shipping companies — including Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM — have already signed on to bring this kind of IoT connected container into their fleet. With the Port of Rotterdam leading the Container 42 initiative, though, it will offer insight into how the data collected by these containers can be used to improve operations at ports and not just aboard ships.

Erwin Rademaker, program manager with the Port of Rotterdam, said the tests will be necessary to help the port move toward more autonomous operations.

"At some point in the future, it will also enable Rotterdam to accommodate autonomous shipping in its port area," Rademaker said in a statement.