Shipping giant Maersk is to introduce a new service that will enable refrigerated container (reefer) operators to efficiently monitor the status of their goods-in-transit wherever they are in the world, using an NFC-enabled tracking system that supports GPS location, temperature readings and alarms, optional G-shock recording and the potential to automate a range of government approvals. “Available to the market in 2019, Sekstant Global Guidance will provide reporting data to container operators wherever the reefers are located in the world,” Maersk explains. “The key to the concept’s effectiveness is that it stays online, using a centralised cloud architecture. The system is enabled by a state-of-the-art Smart Edge device that includes wide-band 4G LTE modem connectivity with global coverage. “Everything is incorporated into a single device and sharing one power supply with the reefer controller. Using the robust Linux OS platform, the device features near field communication (NFC) and Bluetooth for mobile communication.”