Maersk Line Art-Box Arrives in Philadelphia
Frozen mussels from New Zealand to Port of Philadelphia begins Art-Box’s journey around the world to promote value of global container shipping
Maersk Line, an ocean transportation company and a unit of the Maersk Group, announced today the arrival of the Maersk Line Reefer Art-Box, a 40’ high-cube, at the Port of Philadelphia marking the first voyage of the container designed to promote container shipping. The Art-Box’s inaugural shipment contains frozen OP Columbia’s Coromandel Greenshell mussels from New Zealand. The mussel shipment is destined for Mark Foods, New York.
Maersk Line and the Port of Auckland, New Zealand co-commissioned two famous, New Zealand street artists Askew1 and Trust Me to each paint one side of the reefer container. ‘Gigi’ by Askew1 covers one side of the container and a reworked version of Trust Me’s ‘Greetings from Aotearoa’, appears on the other side.
After Philadelphia, the container will continue to travel around the world to gain attention for container shipping. Often considered the ‘invisible industry’, container shipping is actually the most low cost, energy efficient form of global transportation that functions as the world’s economic engine. The refrigerated Art-Box will serve as a reminder, as it delivers food and other perishables to people throughout the world, that container shipping is essential for global economic growth and vitality.
“We are pleased to be part of this exciting project that illuminates container shipping’s value as a driving force in connecting world markets and creating economic growth. The fact that the Art-Box is a refrigerated container further emphasizes the contribution state-of-the-art containerized technology makes to providing healthy, fresh food to markets throughout the world,” said Bill Duggan, Vice President of Refrigerated Sales, Maersk Line North America.
"The refrigerated trade is vital to the Port of Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia Regional Port Authority's Director of Marketing, Sean Mahoney. "Beyond that, the importance of world trade and containerized shipping cannot be underestimated for the local economy. We are excited that Maersk has chosen to make Philadelphia the ArtBox's first destination on its trip around the world."
maerskline.com