Fresh Carriers Co, one of the world’s leading specialised reefer vessel operators, has announced that it has ordered three specialised reefer vessels of approximately 570,000 cubic feet bale (about 13,200 gross tonnes).
According to the group, the vessels will have a capacity for about 4,800 pallets underdeck and about 100 Reefer FEU (about 2,000 pallets) on deck.
The vessel holds are designed to carry high cube pallets both underdeck and ondeck. The ships will be self sustained so they will not need to enter container terminals and can access smaller ports in order to be able to receive and deliver cargo quickly from and to the origin/destination of the cargo.
The vessels will be constructed and equipped in Japan by Kitanihon Shipbuilding Co and they are expected to be delivered in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, and in the first quarter of 2021.
“The demand for refrigerated fruit and protein cargoes in bulk continues to grow strongly in various trade segments around the globe, and most specifically in the Asian markets,' saidTakao Takeshige, president of Fresh Carriers. 'Fresh Carriers believes that specialised refrigerated vessels have a significant place in the global fruit trade in providing direct and dedicated shipping services to the fruit trades ”
The ordering of these three vessels will enable Fresh Carriers to better meet its customers’ requirements, now and into the foreseeable future, the group added.
“Fresh Carriers has shown fantastic support for the New Zealand kiwifruit industry and has been a key shipping partner for Zespri over the last 30 years,' said Mike Knowles, Zespri shipping manager. 'We are excited to see the increased capacity they will have in the specialised reefer segment as these vessels will play a critical role in securing our supply chain long term to North Asia.'
