Seatrade has placed an order with Maersk Container Industry for 4,000 refrigerated containers.

According to MCI, the containers will be Star Cool Integrated reefers that are equipped with an automatic ventilation system. A large number of the reefers will also be equipped with a controlled atmosphere system. Delivery is expected to be completed by December 2016.

“We are delighted to have been chosen by Seatrade to support their strong market position with reefer containers as a complement to their specialized reefer services,” said Stig Hoffmeyer, CEO of Maersk Container Industry. “The results of their thorough testing confirmed that a reefer container is not a commodity. Innovation and cutting-edge technology is key to ensuring optimal cargo care and low energy consumption throughout the operational life of the reefer.”

Before choosing Star Cool Integrated, Seatrade carried out live trials of every relevant refrigeration unit by shipping chilled bananas from Ecuador to Germany, monitoring energy consumption and cargo condition.

“It is essential that our reefer container equipment supports our Fast, Direct and Dedicated concept,” said Yntze Buitenwerf, president and chairman of Seatrade. “Besides timely delivery, our customers need the longest possible shelf life for their produce. The vast majority of our cargo is perishable fruit and vegetables requiring chilled mode transportation with narrow variations in temperature and monitoring of food preservation. In addition, energy efficiency, whole-life costs and long-term operational value are critical to our operations.”

Some of the units will be manufactured by MCI’s new factory in San Antonio, Chile, while the remainder will be made by the Qingdao factory, according to MCI.