Global container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd has revealed that it recently added 3,000 PrimeLine units to its fleet, with 1,000 of the refrigerated containers equipped with Carrier Transicold’s XtendFresh controlled-atmosphere system.
The XtendFresh system actively manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels within refrigerated containers and removes ethylene, thus slowing the ripening of produce and helping to preserve produce quality beyond what refrigeration alone can do.
It allows shippers to maintain the precise levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide needed to optimise conditions for a specific commodity.
Hapag-Lloyd’s order is the largest for the XtendFresh option since its introduction in 2013, with the PrimeLine units installed on 40ft high-cube containers Hapag-Lloyd purchased for fleet replacement and expansion.
“Now being deployed in support of the South America harvest season, the newly ordered containers improve our capabilities with sensitive fruits and vegetables by helping to assure optimal produce quality for our customers,” said Niklas Ohling, head of container steering at Hapag-Lloyd. “As shipping patterns change, bringing longer routes, our investment in controlled-atmosphere technology will provide dividends for our customers by maintaining quality for produce such as bananas and mangos over extended shipping times.”
