Maersk Line, the world's largest container shipping company, says it aims to remove the limits currently placed on how far bananas can be transported with the introduction of StarCare, a new generation of controlled atmosphere containers.
According to the company, the containers have been specially designed to carry bananas over longer distances and are able to maintain outstanding product quality for up to 45 days.
'For the world’s banana exporters, limits on how far bananas can be transported have traditionally kept distant markets – and the business growth they can enable – out of reach,' said a spokesperson. 'Now, Maersk Line is knocking down these barriers with the introduction of StarCare, a new generation of controlled atmosphere containers.'
'This means you can reach more remote markets than ever before, using new technology to grow your business,' the spokesperson added. 'StarCare offers shippers and consignees the efficiencies and flexibility of containerised transport – even enabling you to ship small quantities of bananas to remote markets.'
StarCare containers regulate temperature, humidity levels and the mixture of oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen inside them, keeping products fresh, eliminating the need for Banavac bags and potentially saving customers time and money, the company added.
Using an advanced membrane to take advantage of the bananas’ natural ripening process, the containers apparently control which gases are allowed to escape, maintaining ideal atmospheric conditions inside the container, delaying the ripening process and extending the bananas’ shelf-life.
For Maersk Line, the technology is set to bring new markets within reach. 'The ability to transport bananas reliably and affordably for up to 45 days translates into a world of new markets for exporters in several countries,' said the spokesperson.
'For example, because of the ability to now ship small volumes, exporters in Ecuador can now ship to the Middle East, Japan, China, Russia and the Black Sea, the Mediterranean Sea and New Zealand.
'Costa Rican exporters now have access to valuable markets in Russia and the East Coast of South America.
'And Banana producers in the Philippines are now able to export their produce to the Middle East, while African exporters can now ship to the Mediterranean Sea and to Northern Europe.'
