DB Schenker smartbox has been launched in Hong Kong and south China allowing ocean freight containers to be continuously monitored in real time through special sensor technology, designed to reassure shippers of high-value and environmentally-sensitive goods, electronics and healthcare products.

The smartbox allows a shipment's current GPS coordinates and any deviations from the predetermined route as well as providing information on additional security parameters such as temperature, vibrations, activity at the container door and light inside the container.

"Our product is the only one of its kind in the market. It has proven effective in practice and is in use on the rest of the world's main trade lanes since 2006," said Henry Schmidl Schenker International (HK) director of ocean freight, adding that it can also lower costs and insurance premiums.

"Increased transparency creates the potential to optimise planning of complex transport chains and reduce transit time, which is of key importance for especially valuable shipments."

"More and more high-value consumer goods have their origin in the Asian region. With our state-of-the-art technology we will contribute to safety in the global exchange of these goods, added smartbox project manager Christopher Regenhardt.

DB Schenker in China employs 4,000 and operates in 50 cities in the country.

Source: Shipping Gazette