[10-15-07 – Satellite Today] The European Space Agency (ESA) selected Transcore and Novacom Services to lead the development of satellite-based container tracking technology, ESA announced Oct. 15.

Transcore, which provides satellite asset tracking on three continents, and Novacom will develop an asset tracking prototype that will provide continuous visibility of intermodal containers and eliminate the line-of-sight complication that hinders global tracking of containers while in transit.

Container traffic is estimated to reach about 19 million units by 2012, but thus far it is not possible to track and monitor individual containers on a continuous basis.
The prototype should be completed by the end of 2008.