P&O Nedlloyd places record order for new reefer containers

P&O Nedlloyd has placed a record order for reefer containers worth in excess of US$ 200 million.

The new containers will replace all old blown air containers currently in use in the Europe/USA – Australasia service, older integral equipment and expiring leased containers.

The total order is for 14,500 containers consisting of 6000 x 20 reefer and 8500 x 40high cube reefer containers. The containers have been ordered from China International Marine Containers Group (CIMC) Hong Kong.

All containers will be built in their Shanghai and Qingdao factories and will be delivered to P&O Nedlloyd between December this year and November 2002.

The reefer containers will be fitted with the latest Carrier ThinLine NT model refrigeration system manufactured at Carrier Transicold plants in Singapore and Syracuse, USA. This represents the single largest order in the history of the container refrigeration industry.

"The age profile of our 40′ high-cube reefer containers will reduce to around two years of age Commenting on the new contracts," said Arjen Uytendaal, P&O Nedlloyd’s Director of International Container Management.

P&O Nedlloyd is one of the worlds largest container shipping lines with 144 owned and chartered vessels, and operating 700,000 owned and leased TEUs.