American President Lines (APL) Container Tracking
Track your American President Lines (APL) container in real time. Paste your container number below, no login needed, for live status, route and a predicted ETA.
Track your American President Lines (APL) shipment
American President Lines (APL)
SCAC: APLU
One of the oldest US shipping names, now a CMA CGM US-flag carrier focused on government cargo.
American President Lines traces its roots to 1848 and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, which carried mail, passengers, and freight along the US Pacific coast during the Gold Rush era. The American President Lines name dates to 1938, when the US Maritime Commission reorganized the failing Dollar Steamship Company and named a class of ships after US presidents. For much of the 20th century APL was a pioneer of the transpacific container trade and of double-stack intermodal rail in the United States.
American President Lines (APL) at a glance
- Headquarters
- Singapore
- Founded
- 1848
- Fleet
- US-flag containership fleet (MSP / VISA enrolled)
- Parent group
- CMA CGM Group
- Alliance
- Independent (US-flag / government services under CMA CGM)
- Main trade lanes
- US Government cargo, Guam and Saipan (GSX), US-flag transpacific connections
- Official website
- www.apl.com
About American President Lines (APL)
American President Lines traces its roots to 1848 and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, which carried mail, passengers, and freight along the US Pacific coast during the Gold Rush era. The American President Lines name dates to 1938, when the US Maritime Commission reorganized the failing Dollar Steamship Company and named a class of ships after US presidents. For much of the 20th century APL was a pioneer of the transpacific container trade and of double-stack intermodal rail in the United States.
Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines bought APL in 1997 and shifted its base to Singapore. CMA CGM then acquired Neptune Orient Lines in a deal completed in 2016, folding APL into the French group. The carrier is registered under SCAC code APLU.
The important recent change is a strategic one. From October 1, 2020, CMA CGM made its own brand the group's sole commercial carrier on the transpacific, and APL was refocused on US Government business. Today APL runs a fleet of US-flag containerships crewed by American mariners and enrolled in the Maritime Security Program and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement, work that supports national defense sealift. It also operates the GSX service linking Guam and Saipan to the US mainland and Asia through hubs at Busan and Yokohama.
American President Lines (APL) container tracking FAQ
Is APL still an independent shipping line?
No. APL is part of the CMA CGM Group, which acquired APL's parent Neptune Orient Lines in a deal completed in 2016. APL had earlier been bought by Singapore's Neptune Orient Lines in 1997.
Does APL still run commercial transpacific services?
Not under its own brand. From October 1, 2020, CMA CGM became the group's sole commercial carrier on the transpacific, and APL was refocused on US Government business and US-flag services, including the Guam and Saipan trade.
What does the SCAC code APLU identify?
APLU is the Standard Carrier Alpha Code for American President Lines, used on bills of lading and in EDI messaging to identify APL as the carrier on a shipment.
How do I track a American President Lines (APL) shipment?
Enter your American President Lines (APL) container number, Bill of Lading (BOL), or booking number into Panvaya's tracker. You'll get the live vessel route, milestone events, and a predictive ETA in real time, with no American President Lines (APL) account or login needed for a quick lookup.
What is American President Lines (APL)'s SCAC code?
American President Lines (APL)'s SCAC code is APLU. It identifies American President Lines (APL) on bills of lading and shipping documents. On Panvaya you don't need to enter it. Just paste your container, BOL, or booking number and we detect the carrier automatically.
Can I track American President Lines (APL) containers by Bill of Lading or booking number?
Yes. Panvaya supports American President Lines (APL) tracking by container number, Bill of Lading (BOL), and booking reference (BK). Any of the three returns the same real-time route, port calls, and ETA.
Is American President Lines (APL) container tracking free on Panvaya?
Yes, you can track American President Lines (APL) shipments for free, with no login for a quick lookup. Sign in to unlock the full journey: detailed milestones, predictive ETAs, transhipment legs, and exception alerts.
Why isn't my American President Lines (APL) container updating?
American President Lines (APL) tracking reflects what the carrier and vessel feeds have reported, so there is often a lag between a real-world move and the update. Panvaya refreshes on a regular cycle; a shipment that looks stuck usually just means the next milestone (such as vessel departure or discharge) hasn't been filed yet.
How accurate is the ETA for American President Lines (APL) shipments?
Panvaya combines American President Lines (APL)'s schedule with live vessel position and historical performance to predict arrival, and refines the ETA as the journey progresses and conditions change. It is a continuously updated estimate, not a guarantee.