Crowley Logistics has added 355 new 40ft high cube reefers to its container fleet. The new containers are in addition to more than 500 new reefers the carrier received earlier this year. All the containers are equipped with remote reefer monitoring.

The new containers are Star Cool reefers manufactured by Maersk Container Industry (MCI). Earlier this year Crowley took delivery of 300 reefers from the same supplier.

“We realise the importance of having the best refrigerated equipment in the right quantities – all strategically positioned to meet customers’ needs during peak perishables season and throughout the rest of the year,” said Brett Bennett, senior vice president and general manager, Crowley Logistics. “It is a priority for us to ensure we are meeting all their needs for reliable logistics services, including the highest level of available equipment.”

The 355 new containers arrived in Santo Tomas, Guatemala, last week and have been pressed into service to support Central America’s ongoing heavy northbound reefer season. In the US, Crowley has expanded its on-terminal, perishables handling capabilities by constructing a new USDA inspection dock in Port Everglades, Florida, earlier this year. “The $1.6 million dock has capacity for 80 refrigerated (reefer) containers, more than double the previous size, to better serve perishable shippers moving fruits and vegetables into the U.S. The dock also has individual, shoreside power plugs for each reefer, allowing for continuous temperature control, cutting cargo handling time and the need to move the container to a separate location for separate USDA inspections” Crowley said.