HMM introduces ‘ultra-freezer’ service

South Korea’s largest ocean carrier became the third provider of ultra-freezer service in the industry, which already included Maersk Line and CMA CGM.    Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), South Korea’s largest ocean carrier, started its first ‘ultra-freezer’ service, traveling from Busan, South Korea to Barcelona, Spain the company confirmed Thursday.
   Ultra-freezer service refers to the transportation of goods -60 degrees Celsius (-76 degrees Fahrenheit), which is above the limit of regular reefer containers (-35 degrees Celsius to -40 degrees Celsius).
   “With this new ultra-freezer service, HMM can provide premium service on highly profitable items that were air-transported – such as raw tuna and sea urchin – through ocean,” the carrier said. “HMM provides this ultra-freezer service in Busan (Korea)-Barcelona (Spain), Busan (Korea)-Shimizu (Japan), and Algeciras (Spain)-Yokohama (Japan) routes.”
   Freight rates of ultra-freezer service are four to eight times higher than regular reefer containers, due to high technology and skilled personnel being required, since ultra-freezer containers have to maintain the very low temperature during shifting, loading and discharging.
   Currently, there are only two other ultra-freezer service providers in the industry, which include Maersk Line and CMA-CGM.
   HMM said it plans to further expand high value business, such as ultra-freezer service, in order to improve its growth and profitability.
   The ultra-freezer service launch comes a few months after HMM completed a pilot program involving new technology on its reefer containers.
   Under the pilot operation, which HMM completed last August, Internet of Things (IoT) technology was installed on reefer containers, thus allowing cargo status – such as location, temperature and humidity – allowed to be checked and managed live on-time.