The container line, Hapag-Lloyd, announced it has purchased 3,700 Star Cool Integrated containers as part of their recent reefer investments from Maersk Container Industry (MCI), in order to support the market adaptation of environmentally friendly refrigerants.
Of these containers, 1,000 Star Cool units will be chilled by the environmentally friendly R513A refrigerant system with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 56 percent of the commonly used R134A refrigerant, Hapag-Lloyd said.
“Reducing carbon emissions is a key objective on our sustainability agenda and we believe in the potential of environmentally friendly refrigerants as an important element in achieving this. At the same time, we have ensured in earlier field trials with MCI that the cargo quality and energy efficiency remains unaffected by the new refrigerant,” mentioned Niklas Ohling, Senior Director at Hapag-Lloyd.
All Star Cool units produced after July 2017 can be delivered either charged with R513A or as “R513A-optimised”, enabling a conversion to R513A at any time without modifications.
All Star Cool units produced before July 2017, can be adapted to run on R513A with only minor modifications.
To meet the increased demand in reefer transport, Hapag-Lloyd will use Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technology for 1,000 Star Cool Integrated containers to expand its ExtraFresh and ExtraFresh Plus services.
The CA technology slows the seasoning of fruits and vegetables, allowing them to be transported over longer periods and reach their destination in optimal condition.
The 3,700 40-foot high-cube are currently being produced and delivered from MCI’s manufacturing facilities in China and Chile, Hapag-Lloyd concluded.