German ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd AG has ordered 5,750 new refrigerated containers from Carrier Transicold in an effort to grow its service for temperature-sensitive foods and pharmaceuticals.
The order will consist of 5,000 40-foot-equivalent unit containers, or FEUs, and 750 industry-standard 20-foot-equivalent containers, or TEUs. The company added that 1,000 of the new containers are equipped with “controlled atmosphere” technology, which is supposed to keep fruits and vegetables fresh for longer. The equipment also could also be used to haul meat and fish.
“With the newly ordered reefers, we will be able to continue offering state-of-the-art equipment to our customers while at the same time optimizing the efficiency of our container fleet,” said Anthony J Firmin, chief operating officer. “In this way, we are especially optimally equipped for the South America traffic, which is important in the reefer business.”
The first new refrigerated containers are due to be delivered in October 2016, the company said.
Hapag-Lloyd ordered five new 10,500 TEU vessels in April that are due to arrive before the end of 2016. These vessels will have the capacity to hold more than 2,100 refrigerated container units.
The ocean carrier also is working with Carrier Transicold on a new refrigerated equipment technology that would replace the chemical refrigerants inside with carbon dioxide, according to a statement from the company.
Hapag-Lloyd has about 175 ocean vessels and ranks number 15 on the Transport Topics Top 50 list of the largest global freight carriers.
