Page 50 - Export and Trade

Sponsored by

Ports of Auckland.

QRWLI\ ORFDO WHFKQLFLDQV LI D KDQGV RQ ¿[ LV QHHGHG 7KLV They attribute this to a downturn in investment in reefer
high level of visibility means customers can see if their container equipment which has already led to shortages in
box is not being treated correctly (not being pre-cooled Europe and Brazil during second quarter 2017.
to the prescribed temperature for example, in which Drewry says that “although carrier consolidation
FDVH WKH\ FDQ FRQWDFW WKH RSHUDWRU RI WKH ORFDWLRQ may result in improvements in container utilisation and
Maersk reports that in the RCM launch period, HI¿FLHQF\ WKH ODFN RI UHHIHU FRQWDLQHU HTXLSPHQW RUGHUV
it alerted the shipping line to over 4,500 incorrect placed in 2017 is a concern”.
temperature settings on customers' reefer boxes at One line that did take delivery of its new order of
various locations onboard and onshore. reefer containers was Hapag-Lloyd and New Zealand was
“In 200 of those cases the temperature setting DPRQJ WKH ¿UVW PDUNHWV WR UHFHLYH WKH QHZ IRRW 'DUNLQ
inaccuracy was severe enough that had RCM not Zeister reefer containers earlier in 2017. Hapag-Lloyd
QRWL¿HG 0DHUVN ± ZKLFK PDGH WKH QHFHVVDU\ FKDQJHV sings the Zeister's praises: “These units have the latest
– the cargo, worth millions of dollars to our customers, inverter technology to enable improved capacity from
would have been lost.” the compressor units which in turn, assists with better
'pull down' and maintenance of temperature within the
Reefer containers: a potential lack container. All of which is vital for sensitive commodities.”
Of particular concern to the New Zealand market, where
the ready availability of reefer container equipment is vital Reefer benchmarking club
yet often lacking, reefer exporters will be watching for Drewry has launched a dedicated Reefer Benchmarking
signs of problems. Drewry and others are tracking reefer Club to meet the growing concerns of shippers about
container availability and highlighting a potential dearth. rising freight rates and the uncertainties of carriage

48 NZ Export & Trade Handbook 2018