Seatrade has selected Maersk Container Industry as the main supplier for its expanding reefer container fleet. The 4,000 new Star Cool Integrated reefers will be equipped with the latest technology to protect perishable cargo during long-distance transportation and keep energy consumption at a minimum.
The order of 4,000 new Star Cool Integrated reefers from Maersk Container Industry (MCI) will reinforce Seatrade’s perishable and sensitive cargo logistics.
Seatrade live-tested every relevant refrigeration unit option before deciding on Star Cool Integrated. Closely monitored shipments were carried out with chilled banana loads from Ecuador to Germany, during which energy consumption and cargo condition were measured. The results confirmed Star Cool’s higher performance, lower operating costs and CO2 emission levels.
All new reefer containers from MCI will be the Star Cool Integrated version equipped with the Automatic Ventilation (AV+) system. A large number of units will also be installed with the Controlled Atmosphere (CA) system, with the option of upgrading the remaining reefers if demand for longer transportations of certain types of perishable cargo increases. Energy efficiency is said to be enhanced MCI’s StarConomy software. This solution reduces energy costs without compromising produce quality, claims the company.
A proportion of the 4,000 units will be manufactured in MCI’s factory in San Antonio, Chile, ready for the fruit season in the southern hemisphere. The remainder of the order will be fulfilled by MCI’s facility in Qingdao, China.
