> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://terminal49-sinan-dev-10929-support-initial-shipment-and-per.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Start Here: Track Shipments with the Terminal49 API

> Set up Terminal49 API access, generate an API key, and make your first tracking request to start monitoring ocean shipments and containers.

This getting-started path walks you through a first successful Terminal49 integration:

1. Get an API key.
2. Create a tracking request for a bill of lading, booking, or container number.
3. List the shipment and container data Terminal49 stores for you.
4. Register a webhook so your system receives updates when data changes.

By the end, you will have made an authenticated request to the API and seen the basic request/response shape used by the rest of the documentation.

## Before you start

You need:

* A Terminal49 account with API access.
* A shipment identifier from a carrier: master Bill of Lading (BOL), booking number, or container number.
* The carrier Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC), unless you plan to use carrier auto-detection.

You can use any HTTP client. [Postman](https://www.postman.com/) is useful for a first pass because it can run the published OpenAPI collection with your API key.

<Card title="Run in Postman" icon="caret-right" href="https://www.postman.com/terminal49-api/terminal49-api/collection/x2podso/terminal49-api-reference-public">
  Explore the Terminal49 API with the published Postman collection.
</Card>

## Get an API key

Sign in to your Terminal49 account and go to the [developer portal](https://app.terminal49.com/developers/api-keys) to get your API key.

## Send the Authorization header

The API uses a Token-prefixed API key in the `Authorization` header. Send it with every request:

```http theme={null}
Authorization: Token YOUR_API_KEY
```

<Tip>
  Keep your API key on your server. Do not put it in browser code or public repositories.
</Tip>

## Continue the tutorial

<Card title="Create a tracking request" icon="ship" href="/api-docs/getting-started/tracking-shipments-and-containers">
  Send your first shipment identifier to Terminal49.
</Card>