UASC reefer offering continues to expand

United Arab Shipping Company (UASC), a leading container shipping line and global carrier, confirmed today that its reefer business will continue to expand, offering customers’ modern equipment and reefer cargo expertise in transporting chilled and frozen cargo.

Following several initiatives including significant investment in new reefer units, and a cooperation agreement with Hamburg Sud opening up new services to South America, UASC aims to highlight its growth during WOP 2015, the international perishables expo for the Middle East being held at Dubai World Trade Center from 5th – 7th October.

A second batch of reefer units delivered in May this year supports the growth of existing services and enhanced geographic access following a partnership with CMA CGM and Hamburg Sud to enter the North Atlantic trade, linking Northern Europe with the United States East Coast.

Gareth Madsen, head of reefer management at UASC said, “At 2014’s WOP, we announced our expansion plans for 2015; phase one of a longer term reefer growth strategy. We have completed what we set out to achieve and to date have taken delivery of a total of 5,500 new reefer units. These new units are largely to cater for the increased capacity from South America and United States East Coast.”

Madsen added, “We will continue to invest in our reefer fleet to ensure sustained growth, our key focus being to provide customers with an effective approach to handling their reefer business. We believe specialized product management is crucial to successfully transporting reefer cargo; this includes both chilled and frozen cargo – commodities including meat, fish, poultry, fresh produce, dairy products and pharmaceuticals. Our dedicated professionals help customers by providing guidance in this process, including input on temperature, humidity and ventilation, among other specifications, and quality control procedures. Equally important to providing a professional service is carrying our customer’s cargo in new, reliable reefer containers.

Being at the expo gives us the opportunity to engage in open dialogue with our customers and ensure we are doing everything possible to meet their requirements in both these areas.”

With a global network servicing established and emerging markets, UASC’s steadily expanding reefer fleet is one of the youngest in the industry, with an average reefer container age of three years. Significantly, 60% of UASC’s current reefer fleet has the ability to measure the CO2 levels of the cargo and automatically ventilate as required, enhancing both product quality and environmental performance.