Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 7,700 new refrigerated containers as it aims to maintain and expand its fleet. This includes 7,000 40 ft and 700 20 ft units. In addition, 1,000 of the new containers are equipped with “Controlled Atmosphere” technology, which slows down the ripening process of various types of fruits and vegetables, thereby allowing them to be transported for longer periods of time while maintaining a consistent quality. Production will already begin in September.
Of the new containers, 1,000 of the 40-foot units will be manufactured in a plant in San Antonio, Chile, a region in which they are in high demand. As a result, it will be possible to reduce the necessary shifting of empty containers from alternative production sites, which saves both time and money in terms of empty transports.
Anthony J. Firmin, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Hapag-Lloyd., said, “After the merger with UASC this past May, Hapag-Lloyd has once again significantly grown in the reefer market. With these new orders, we are further expanding this position and investing in an efficient and modern fleet as well as in the expansion of our most recent product, ‘ExtraFresh Plus,’ in order to meet the needs of our customers worldwide.”
Working together with suppliers, Hapag-Lloyd has refined its “Controlled Atmosphere” technology. Its “ExtraFresh Plus” technology allows even extremely sensitive fruits, such as blueberries and lychees, to be transported at the desired level of quality and degree of ripeness.
Source: Hapag-Lloyd
