Belgian reefer vessel operator and owner Seatrade has announced the acquisition of four “handy-size” reefer new-buildings of 300,000 cubic feet. Seatrade stressed the green credentials of the vessels, above all their eco design and environmentally friendly refrigeration plant for cooling the below-deck space.
The vessels are scheduled for delivery from the GSHI facility in Zhongshan, China, from the summer of 2017.
“This acquisition represents another significant step in Seatrade’s commitment to further develop its services and logistical systems dedicated to the transportation of perishable goods,” the company stated.
The order is part of a larger new-building programme, including “six plus six optional high-specification reefer container vessels and another four optional handy-size reefer vessels”.
These specialised handy-size reefer vessels will be employed in the GreenSea Reefer Pool, while the reefer container vessels will be used in the Seatrade Pool, being an integrated part of the FDD (Fast, Direct & Dedicated) concept developed by the company.
“Transit times and associated indirect costs are increasing on services operated by larger container lines and there remains a clear demand for FDD services operated by specialised reefers, specialised container vessels and hybrid vessels,” the company explained. “Seatrade is continuing to improve and customize the FDD transportation and logistics solutions in niche trades that offer shorter delivery times, provide flexibility in seasonalvolume fluctuations and service ports with dedicated infrastructure.”
Seatrade is equally seeking opportunities to boost its fleet with further acquisitions of new-buildings and modern second-hand tonnage, combined with possible strategic alliances with third-party owners in the same segment.
“This latest development is another example of Seatrade’s long-term commitment to the industry,” the firm stated, “enabling the company and its worldwide network of dedicated offices to further improve service levels to its customers and partners in the years to come.”
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