Really special: Specialised reefer vessels
Specialised reefer vessels are purpose-built ships for carriage of cargo requiring temperature control, mainly foodstuffs. These versatile ships carry unitised cargo under deck and are equipped with a high-capacity reefer plant to cool and/or freeze the cargo. They also have capacity to carry reefer containers on deck. They can offer a lot to customers who wish their cargo to be treated as first class passengers.
Number one: The size of today's fruit market would not have been possible without the pioneering work of specialised reefer vessels and their decades of dedication and understanding of the reefer cargoes. This has provided them with years of experience and helped to develop the skills which keeps them in spearheading all developments in their area of specialisation. Peak seasons with high volumes could never be mastered without them showing the flexibility they provide in fruit logistics. There simply would not be enough transportation space at affordable costs without such a flexible system. A reefer vessel consists of three to five cargo holds. In each hold there are three to four decks/levels, each of them providing compartments for 200 to 500 pallets. This makes up to 7,000 pallets per ship.
More than a plus: specialised reefer vessel transportation provides the lowest risk for damage to cargo. Each cooling section has a separate cooling and fresh air control system to establish and maintain the optimal conditions for the fruit transported. The size of the compartments provides ideal air distribution and thermodynamics for effective cooling down of the cargo. The air is distributed equally under the cargo. This not only helps in rapid cooling down of the cargo if it is not at the required temperature but also prevents uneven cooling of cargo and the so-called hot spots. It is difficult to achieve such conditions inside a container. This is why leading shippers of fruit prefer to carry their fruit in specialised reefer ships.
Additionally, the reefer vessels travel directly to the port of discharge, which helps increasing the shelf life. This means, they do not need hubs for transhipment which in reefer transportation is still a very big risk. Hubs are typical in systems used by container ships, where the cargo is moved from a smaller to a bigger ship for the long part of the journey.
Intensive care during the whole trip: the skilled crew monitors the condition of the cargo several times a day. This way, the cargo is under frequent control and damage is prevented.
Specialised ships go to specialised terminals: specialised reefer ships load and discharge their cargoes at terminals that have specialised in the handling of reefer cargoes. These terminals have very good knowledge about the care of reefer cargoes and the needs of the users of the terminals.
In short: effective cooling systems, shorter transited distance, faster delivery from dedicated terminals located close to land based distribution systems enable specialised reefer ships to deliver their cargo in time and with a smaller carbon footprint. To enhance the quality results even further by optimizing all steps of the transportation, 360 Quality Association was founded...