New campaign launched
The North P&I Club has launched a new campaign to reduce cargo damage claims when carrying refrigerated / reefer containers.
The increasing global demand for imported fresh produce – ranging from fish, flowers and fruit to vaccines and vegetables – has led to record levels in the reefer container trade, In addition, modern trading terms have extended the traditional period for which carriers are responsible for such containers.
”To ensure reefer container cargoes – particularly living organic products – reach their final destination in perfect order, the correct conditions need to be maintained throughout the ‘cold chain’, from harvest to sea transit to point of sale. However, increased use of combined and multimodal bills of lading are extending carriers’ responsibility and liability, which was traditionally limited to the sea passage link of the cold chain, to include the time when reefer containers leave the shipper up to when they are delivered to the consignee. This could include road haulage and periods of time being stored at container terminals, all of which are critical links in the cold chain”, North’s Head of Loss Prevention Tony Baker said.
North has highlighted the issue to Members in the latest issue of its loss prevention newsletterSignals. It has also published more comprehensive guidance in a loss prevention briefing on the carriage of reefer containers and a new quick reference ‘Hot-Spots’ sheet entitledThe Cold Chain.
North P&I Club has identified that a significant proportion are caused by:
North P&I Club has identified that events lead to temperature deviations within reefer containers include:
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For more information, visit the club’s website atwww.nepia.com.