Perishable Food News

The Biden administration recently issued a sweeping Executive Order [1] aimed at protecting and enhancing competition, and the transportation sector—including air, ocean, and rail—is among the industries specifically identified and likely to see heightened antitrust scrutiny under the new directives. This executive action was soon followed by the long-awaited announcement of Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division (Division), Jonathan Kanter, who…

Lineage Logistics  and Dreisbach Enterprises announced the official opening of Lineage Cool Port Oakland, the world’s latest next-generation cold storage and logistics facility.Set on 25 acres at the Port of Oakland’s waterfront, Cool Port will serve as the newest hub for temperature-controlled cargo transitioning through Northern California.Cool Port is a collaboration between warehousing and logistics industry leaders Lineage and Dreisbach, with additional funding and support from the Port of Oakland and the State of California. This combination brings together world-class cold-chain logistics expertise and steadfast commitment to innovation and community growth.“We are excited to expand Lineage’s dynamic…

Maersk Line has ordered the first 100 of a total of 200 refrigerated containers to be chilled by Carrier Transicold’s NaturaLINE natural refrigerant based system. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Carrier Transicold’s highly efficient NaturaLINE is the first container refrigeration system to use the natural refrigerant carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a safe and nonozone depleting gas with a global warming potential (GWP) of one.

Taking live monitoring of reefer cargoes beyond temperature and humidity tracking, APL is introducing real-time oxygen and carbon dioxide monitoring capabilities to its industry-pioneering satellite tracking system, SMARTemp. Designed to offer more well-rounded visibility for precise cargo management and protection throughout a voyage, these added features further distinct APL’s groundbreaking SMARTemp® technology which was launched in 2010. Ng Kar Loke, APL Head of Special Cargo said, “As a leading and trusted reefer expert whom shippers have counted on in bringing their exports across the globe, APL deploys only the best reefer solutions that protect cargo integrity during every APL voyage.

Venezuelan state agencies have run up close to $1 billion in debts with shipping firms due to delays in returning containers, potentially boosting the cost of importing staple goods as the country struggles with product shortages and an economic crisis. The agencies have held containers for months or simply never returned them, at times leaving the truck-sized steel boxes for years in oil industry facilities or on provincial farms even though this costs $100 per day per container, according to industry sources. The debts have piled up over the last six years, coinciding with a steady rise in the role of state agencies in importing goods to Venezuela, particularly food. The country is served by industry giants such as Maersk of Denmark and Hamburg Sud of Germany.

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services has announced the expansion of its refrigerated container fleet in order to answer the demand for its innovative ZIMonitor service. Launched in early 2015, ZIMonitor allows customers to track, monitor and remotely control sensitive, high-value cargo stowed in refrigerated, or reefer, containers. Customers can opt to receive alerts regarding their shipment via text message or email, closely monitor their cargo's status and intervene to prevent damages through ZIM's 24/7 dedicated global response team. An order of approximately 1,900x40-Feet High-Cube refrigerated containers is planned to be deployed during 2016.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division lent support to the community by participating in three area charitable events. Shipbuilders donated nearly 20,000 school supplies to benefit an estimated 1,000 area students, contributed $2 million to the United Way of the Virginia Peninsula, and recently delivered more than 20 metric tons of non-perishable food--five tons heavier than an anchor on the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78)--to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank.

No matter what you ship, chances are it needs some kind of protection. Even tough materials such as steel and concrete can be susceptible to chipping, breaking or corrosion. For sensitive electronics, delicate glassware, perishable foods and other specialized needs, having the right protection can make the difference between sending your customer a work of art and shipping a box of shards. Get an idea of how best to pack your products with an overview of the best packing materials and shipping containers to suit your needs.

Reftrade UK, a specialist in the sale and lease of refrigerated containers and temperature controlled units to the offshore energy sector, said it has made a £100,000 investment in its rental fleet to aid further business growth. The company said its investment will see Reftrade UK take a market-lead as the only rental supplier of 10ft and 20ft explosion proof containers. Greg Spence, Reftrade UK managing director said, “Following extensive market research, Reftrade UK developed…

Former Executive Convicted for Role in Price-Fixing Conspiracy Involving Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico. Following a two-week trial, a federal jury in Puerto Rico today convicted a former executive of a Florida-based coastal water freight transportation company for his participation in a conspiracy to fix rates and surcharges for water transportation of freight between the continental United States and Puerto Rico, the Department of Justice announced. Frank Peake, the former president of Sea Star Line LLC, was found guilty today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico…

Newport News Shipbuilding employees donate food for the poor at Christmas, filling offices from desk to door. Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division donated more than $23,500 and more than 31,000 pounds of non-perishable food to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank during the shipyard's annual holiday food drive. "We are fortunate to employ an extraordinary group of people at Newport News Shipbuilding," said Chavis Harris, NNS' director, EEO, diversity and corporate citizenship.

Delaware River Port Community schedule a one-day donation drive. Organizers from private and public sector port businesses and agencies throughout the tri-state region have scheduled a one-day donation drive for Saturday, November 17, 2012, from 8:00am – 5:00pm, to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy. There are drop-off locations at Philadelphia's Wholesale Produce Market, Gloucester's Marine Terminal, and Wilmington's Chase Center on the Riverfront. The efforts will support several New Jersey charitable and relief organizations, such as the Salvation Army, and the United Way of Monmouth County. “We in the Delaware River Valley were extremely lucky that Sandy caused little to no damage in our area,” said Kurt Ferry, of Greenwich Terminals.

Florida-Based Sea Star Line LLC Agrees to Plead Guilty and Its Former President Is Indicted for Price Fixing on Coastal Freight Services Between the Continental United States and Puerto Rico Sea Star Line Also Agrees to Pay $14.2 Million Criminal Fine. Sea Star Line LLC has agreed today to plead guilty and to pay a $14.2 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the coastal water freight transportation industry, the Department of Justice announced. Additionally…

Aker Philadelphia Shipyard (Oslo:AKPS), a leading U.S. commercial shipyard, cut steel on Hull 014, the tenth product tanker in the series of twelve to be built for American Shipping Company (Oslo:AMSC). Production of this vessel begins a few days after the successful delivery of Hull 010, the Overseas Boston. A small ceremony was held this afternoon to commence production and was attended by representatives of Aker Philadelphia Shipyard, OSG, the Philadelphia Metal Trades Council and Philabundance. Last week, Aker Philadelphia Shipyard and the Philadelphia Metal Trades Council held a yard wide food drive to help support Philabundance in its mission to be the largest hunger relief organization in the region.

Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker today accepted the formal orders from the Department of Defense designating the Port of Philadelphia as a Strategic Military Seaport. "This designation is yet another historic moment for Pennsylvania and the Port of Philadelphia," Gov. Schweiker said. "The port has played a vital role in our nation's security since the days of the Revolutionary War, and it will do so again as America faces new challenges in a post-Sept. The designation was made by the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) and the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). Strategic Military Seaports are designated to support major force deployments during the times of national security needs under one or more national defense contingency plans.