MSC has announced its fleet expansion helped outperform previous year results, delivering 1.9m refrigerated containers, known as reefers, outperforming 2019’s 1.8m. In order to meet an increased demand for its reefer cargo service in existing and new destinations around the world, MSC has been expanding its reefer fleet for temperature-sensitive cargo, notably by adding 15,000 Star Cool units in 2020.
Further developments can be found in its Gülsün Class container ships, thanks to their improved design and larger size, these giant ocean-going vessels are able to carry over 2,000 additional reefer containers than the previous generation, according to MSC. The increased capacity is said to have helped service the high volumes of trade activity between Europe and Asia, boosting the trade of food, drinks, pharmaceuticals and other chilled and frozen products.
“Reefer containers and temperature-controlled solutions have gained popularity over the course of 2020. At MSC, our customers remain our top priority and we’re glad that we’ve been able to keep their reefer operations functioning amid the pandemic. The growing demand has also opened up new market possibilities, which we have been able to support thanks to our continual investment in the best technologies for refrigerated transport solutions.” explains Giuseppe Prudente, MSC Global Chief Logistics Officer.
In 2020, MSC made the first ever shipment of Chilean clementines to Hong Kong, connecting Asia and Latin America via its INCA Service. Shortly after, MSC delivered the first ever shipment of avocados from Colombia to China, a journey made possible through our advanced reefer technology.
MSC stated it is investing in technologies for reefer containers to ensure perishable goods maintain their quality all the way to their final destination, and does so by using both Controlled Atmosphere (CA) and Cold Treatment (CT) technology to transport fruit and vegetables around the world.
MSC’s reefer containers feature Controlled Atmosphere (CA) integrated technology such as XtendFRESH and Star Cool and references its partnerships with other suppliers like Liventus, Maxtend and Purfresh. Such systems are said to extend the shelf life of perishable goods by regulating oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, which slows down the ripening process and keeps fruit fresh for longer.
Cold Treatment (CT) is a chemical-free way to eliminate fruit flies and other insects. The process lowers the temperature of the fruit pulp and maintains it for a specified period of time, with varying settings, depending on the country of origin, the type of commodity and the country of destination.
Source: MSC
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