Crowley Logistics recently ordered 300 energy efficient reefer units from Maersk Container Industry (MCI), with expected delivery in March.
This will be MCI’s third delivery to Crowley within little more than a year, the company said.
“Crowley’s continued investment in its reefer fleet reflects a significant commitment to the markets of Central America and the Caribbean,” said Anders Holm, global head of sales and marketing at MCI. “MCI values the trust Crowley has by expanding their operated Star Cool fleet to meet the growing demands of their marketplace.”
In mid-December 2020, MCI coordinated delivery of 355 new Star Cool Integrated 40-foot high-cube units to Crowley. They arrived in Santo Tomas, Guatemala, in time to meet peak seasonal demand for perishable exports from Central America.
Since 2017, Crowley has invested more than US$160 million in new cargo equipment for its fleet, ensuring equipment availability at origin for perishables moving through the cold chain. The reefer fleet supplements Crowley’s full slate of shore-side and inland facilities and services.
“Crowley realizes the importance of having the best refrigerated equipment in the right quantities strategically positioned to meet customers’ needs during peak perishables seasons,” said Andrew Davis, Crowley’s vice president for corporate equipment and maintenance.
“The new containers’ environmentally friendly Star Cool refrigeration units boost efficiency and reliability that enhances value and capabilities in the cold chain.”
Energy Efficient
Crowley says it appreciates the energy efficiency of MCI’s Star Cool Integrated reefers. To further enhance the efficiency and eco-friendliness of the units, Crowley has opted to utilize MCI’s StarConomy setting as a default on their entire Star Cool fleet.
StarConomy is an energy optimization software that prioritizes cargo care. A key feature is its ability to control compressor and fan speed at the same time. By running the fans at lower speed when allowed by the cargo, the motors generate less heat while using significantly less energy than standard mode. By carefully balancing compressor and fan speed, StarConomy accurately matches air circulation to cooling demand, ensuring an ideal environment for delicate, chilled produce.
Accurate temperature control protects produce quality. Unlike other economy software programs, StarConomy does not undershoot supply-air temperature compared to set point. To ensure maximum produce protection, StarConomy operates at full capacity to reach the set point as quickly as possible. Once that’s done, the optimization process begins. StarConomy constantly fine-tunes the temperature to keep it as accurate as possible.
