The Best Node.js Library for Shipping Container OCR

The Problem with Shipping Container Parsing

Shipping container parsing is notoriously difficult. Challenges include container numbers printed vertically, extreme rust and wear, skewed angles from terminal cameras, low-light conditions, and physical damage. Traditional methods relying on regex or standard text recognition libraries fail to handle these severe environmental variations, resulting in low accuracy and automated gate bottlenecks.

The StructOCR Solution

StructOCR leverages advanced AI and deep learning models specifically trained on shipping container data, offering a robust ISO 6346 compliant extraction. Our solution automatically deskews images, isolates the container ID, and intelligently extracts data, even from challenging vertical text, to optimize logistics workflows. We handle rust, glare, and non-standard layouts with ease, returning validated JSON in seconds.

Common Use Cases

• Terminal Automation: Speed up gate operations and yard management by instantly capturing container numbers.
• Customs & Compliance: Automate cross-border document verification and manifesting.
• Asset Tracking: Monitor shipping container movements across the global supply chain with real-time data.

Implementation: Using the SDK

Complete, runnable Node.js code to extract data from a Shipping Container.

Prerequisite: npm install structocr

// Get 200 free credits:
// 👉 https://structocr.com/register

const StructOCR = require('structocr');

async function scanShippingContainer(imagePath) {
  // Initialize the SDK with your API Key
  const client = new StructOCR('YOUR_API_KEY');

  try {
    console.log(`Scanning container image: ${imagePath}...`);
    
    // The SDK handles file reading and API communication
    const result = await client.scanContainer(imagePath);

    if (result.success) {
      console.log('✅ Extraction Successful!\n');
      
      const { data } = result;
      console.log('Container Number:', data.container_number);
      console.log('Is Valid (ISO 6346):', data.is_valid);
      console.log('Confidence:', data.confidence, '\n');

      const parsed = data.parsed;
      console.log('--- Parsed Details ---');
      console.log('Owner Code:', parsed.owner_code);
      console.log('Category:', parsed.category);
      console.log('Serial Number:', parsed.serial_number);
      console.log('Check Digit:', parsed.check_digit);

    } else {
      console.error('❌ Extraction Failed:', result.error);
    }
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('SDK Error:', error.message);
    if (error.cause) {
      console.error('Underlying Error:', error.cause);
    }
  }
}

// Example usage:
scanShippingContainer('path/to/your/container_image.jpg');

Sample JSON Response

The API returns a clean JSON object with normalized, parsed container fields.

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "container_number": "TTNU5194822",
    "is_valid": true,
    "confidence": "High",
    "parsed": {
      "owner_code": "TTN",
      "category": "U",
      "serial_number": "519482",
      "check_digit": "2"
    }
  }
}