Oct.19--MOL Consolidation Service (MCS), a member of Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) group, has successfully conducted trials to monitor containers equipped with a remote container tracking management device on railway routes linking China and Europe.

　　The container tracking device makes it possible to monitor cargo in transit using a variety of equipment such as global positioning system (GPS), a temperature gauge and an optical sensor. Information on the cargo such as its location, temperature and humidity will be transmitted to the customer by email or via a smartphone application, reported AJOT.

　　The tracking device is light weight (130 grammes) and compact in size (90mm long x 62mm wide x 26mm deep) making it easily to attach inside the container. Battery life is 70 days, making it suitable even for long distance transport. The device also monitors the unauthorised opening and closing of the container during transport with an optical sensor.

　　MCS conducted trials of the container tracking devices on three railway routes from central and south China to Europe (Ningbo-Poland/Ningbo-Germany/Shenzhen-Poland) in cooperation with a Chinese railway company and customers.

　　The devices successfully transmitted periodic updates to the MCS server on the cargo position and conditions on all three routes, from the place of receipt to the final destination. Starting this autumn, the company plans to start installing the devices in containers upon the request of customers.

　　The device is expected to help reassure customers that their shipments will arrive on time and be safe from pilferage, giving them the convenience to monitor their cargo status.