Hapag-Lloyd orders 6,000 reefer containers

The German ocean carrier said it plans to use the refrigerated boxes to take advantage of growth opportunities in the South American trade lanes.    Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 6,000 40-foot reefer containers.
   The Hamburg-based ocean carrier said in a statement Tuesday it is investing “a double-digit million amount” with the order to “benefit from increasing transport volumes not just on East-West trades, but also on North-South and Latin American trades.”
   “We operate a state-of-the-art reefer fleet that is the fourth-largest in the world. With the new reefers, we are expanding our leading position even further in this specialized business with its specific demands and will thus benefit from the growing reefer market,” said Rolf Habben Jansen, chief executive officer of Hapag-Lloyd. “With our enhanced reefer fleet, we are ideally positioned for the Latin American trade, which is an important part of the reefer business – right on time for the opening of the expanded Panama Canal next year.”
   In April, Hapag-Lloyd ordered five new 10,500-TEU capacity containerships with a high number of slots for reefers.
   “Each of these ships can accommodate up to 2,100 reefers. The newbuildings are to be used primarily on trades to and from South America, as this region is one of the strongest reefer markets in the world,” the company said. “The new reefers are to be gradually integrated into the container fleet, starting in the coming weeks.”
   Around 1,000 of the newly ordered containers will be fitted with controlled-atmosphere technology, which prolongs the life of certain fruits and vegetables, according to Hapag-Lloyd.