BMT De Beer Provides Reefer Industry Guidance with New Book
29-Jan-2008
BMT De Beer, a subsidiary of BMT Group, has responded to the changes in the refrigerated shipping industry by publishing a new industry-defining reference guide designed to ensure that everything from apples to yams arrives on shore in perfect condition.
Written by reefer shipping specialist Harm de Haan, BMT De Beer's Consolidated Manual on Postharvest Handling, Cooling and Storage of Fruit and Vegetables includes guidelines for over 90 types of fruit and vegetables.
Mr de Haan has over 25 years of experience in reefer shipping and has spent the last year gathering the vast amount of information necessary to compile the guide. It is a follow up to his 2005 publication BMT De Beer's Consolidated Manual on the Transportation of Perishable Cargo in Reefer Containers.
The manual comes at a time of intense growth for the perishable cargo industry. However, while cargoes are expected to rise by 50% over the next five to ten years due to new products and new markets, a shortage of reefer ship new build is causing a potential bottleneck in cargo transit.
Changes in consumer habits are driving this growth as year-round access to produce drives the demand for international transportation. In recent years, much work has been done to improve the quality of fruit and vegetables. New varieties have been introduced which gives consumers a wider choice. Many growers, traders and others involved in the perishable chain also have accreditation for product quality and handling and so this improves the consistency of quality of products on the market. However, despite the best efforts to handle fresh produce in the optimum way, there will always be compromises to be made which affect the final quality of the product. Hence, the chance of increasing numbers of cargo claims is not unreal.
Did you know?
• Kiwis are highly odour sensitive
• Green peppers and avocados will taint the flavour of pineapples
• Apples and pears acquire an earthy taste when stored with potatoes
• Cucumbers and green peppers lose their green hue when stored with ethylene-producing tomatoes, bananas, apples or pears
• Superfood pomegranate is distinctly less super unless humidity is high and cartons are lined with polyethylene
Increasingly reefer containers are being used to transport fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat products due to a decline in the number of reefer ships and the larger capacity of containers by comparison. With this change comes a raft of new issues the industry is struggling to come to grips with. Refrigerated containers cannot cool cargo and merely maintain temperatures, making pre-cooling of cargo necessary before loading.
The containers are often disconnected from the electricity supply while moved from ship to shore, allowing interior temperatures to rise when the dwelling period is prolonged, and increasing the possibility of spoilage. This can result in compensation claims from cargo parties against the cargo carriers - this is a particular issue for the transit of tropical fruit. The new guide aims to ensure cargo operators are fully aware of all issues involved in the transportation of these delicate items.
Author Mr de Haan said "The perishable cargo industry is facing new challenges and this book will help reefer owner and operators ensure delicate cargo arrives at its destination safely and in saleable condition."
"This new publication has been written by a surveyor of huge experience. It's a must read for anyone involved in the industry, both as a practical guide and reference manual. This fascinating part of the marine transport chain is something we all take for granted - it's important to realise the work that goes into ensuring high quality, undamaged fruit and vegetables are available across the globe." said managing director of BMT De Beer, Jeroen de Haas.
The book is available to order from www.bmtdebeer.com at a price of €85.