This post is geared towards a technical audience, rather than a general blog article. The technologies outlined are really pathways for information, but they have to be built and configured to integrate with dynamic systems operating in a harsh alien environment. We addressed those conditions in the last post
“Between 1980 and 2022, the deadweight tonnage of container ships grew from about 11 million metric tons to roughly 293 million metric tons.”
www.statista.com
IoT is delivering the data layer between ship and shore
In logistics time is your best friend and your worst enemy. Time allows you to improvise, overcome and adapt, but also sets a metronome on how long you’ve got and what resources you can muster. Real-time data is the gamechanger.
IoT and smart sensors: shipping companies can now track containers, monitor environmental conditions, and detect potential risks to cargo, all while streamlining logistics with global oversight in real-time. Here’s a look at the tech that’s transforming sea freight tracking.
The Sea
GPS and AIS tracking is the backbone of port to port services, providing real-time updates on location, triangulate course corrections and update ETA. When paired with Bluetooth (short range, inside structures), GPS devices can gather detailed information on container status, even in busy ports. IoT solutions from Teltonica, Ruptela, JimiIoT, BCE and Xirgo are among the top choices for global shippers, offering robust GPS and Bluetooth connectivity to ensure containers are always traceable.
Bluetooth’s low energy consumption makes it ideal for long-haul trips, while GPS accuracy allows shippers to pinpoint the exact location of containers. According to a 2023 report by Allied Market Research, the market for GPS-based container tracking is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.2% over the next five years and GPS/GNSS tech is the leading tool in the shipping sector.
Ship movements on open water play to GPS’s strengths. Combined with up to the minute weather data from beacons worldwide, it has effectively revolutionized navigation, but it has known weaknesses. RFID and Bluetooth stacks excel in areas where GPS finds issues, such as congested ports or in tracking the movement of containers between warehouses and terminals.
Risk mitigation with IoT
Shipping partners using Ruptela acceleration sensors have reported a 30% reduction in damage claims, highlighting how motion tracking helps in identifying problem points in transport. Contracts in logistics are built to frame a bearer of “risk.” Risk can be shared in different ways between shippers, carriers and receivers depending on the contract terms. IoT data helps both in the mitigation of risk, predictive analytics of potential risk and in providing proof or “a chain of causation” when it all gets to court later.
Temperature Sensors: Protecting cargo
Temperature-sensitive goods, from pharmaceuticals to perishables, demand strict climate control. Cold chain shipping has seen a dramatic rise in recent years, showing a 13% increase from 2023 to 2024. Wireless temperature control sensors work over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi via a data logger, transmitting temperature sample readings at set intervals to the monitoring station, while storing short term data in internal memory. A selection of other sensors can also provide supporting data, such as humidity, air quality and power metering.
Motion and Acceleration Sensors: Detecting hazards
Motion, tilt, vibration, shock and acceleration sensors play a crucial role in container security by alerting crew to extreme movement in a seaway. This allows the captain or engineer to alter course or accept other mitigation strategies, such as lashing down loose cargo, slowing down or making towards an alternative port while underway. Sensors are sensitive to impacts, so if a container is mishandled or subjected to rough seas, alerts are sent immediately.
RS232 and RS485 Gateways: Bridging data systems
RS232 and RS485 gateways are essential for integrating various sensor data types into a single system, especially in large shipping fleets. These gateways facilitate communication between sensors and central tracking systems, streamlining data flow and ensuring compatibility across devices. RS232 and RS485 gateways support protocols used by GPS, temperature, and motion sensors, allowing data from each sensor type to be processed and monitored in real time.
1-WIRE – widely used communication interface for simple 1-way communication like sensor data
RS485 – industrial bus communication protocol that enables multipoint to multipoint communication with very long distances over two wires
RS232 – standard point-to-point communication protocol to send/receive data on short distances over three wires
The Future of Sea Shipping: Connected technology ports
IoT-driven container tracking has redefined shipping logistics, offering greater control and security over assets with advanced sensor technology and integrative solutions. Shipping companies optimize routes, reduce losses, and respond to incidents immediately, while a ship is underway.
There is little difference between the macro level of mega ships at sea delivering to a cereal port and a micro level of packets of data being delivered to a serial port. The principles are 1 to 1. Whether it’s tracking a container’s journey across oceans or ensuring that sensitive cargo arrives intact, IoT-enabled shipping technology is saving time and offering flexibility to carriers in a fluid environment.
Believe me, sir, if I were involved in a trade venture like yours, most of my mental energy would be with my ships, as well.
Solanio, Merchant of Venice Act 1, Sc. 1.
