Less chance of damage to fresh produce shipped in containers?

In a recent article in Lloyds List a statement was made stating that fruit "was better transported by container, with less chance of damage and that distribution chains were better suited to the needs of the supermarkets”. Really! A rather bold statement! At the initiative of the Citrus Growers Association of South Africa in 2010, a project was launched analyzing the effect of loading citrus fruit on a high-cube pallet as opposed to a standard pallet. Apart from being about 18 cm higher, the high-cube pallet is approximately 15% heavier than the traditional standard pallet loaded under deck on a Specialized Reefer vessel. The following
symptoms were reported being experienced in the logistics chain prior to export.

Pallets shifting and falling over during transportation to load port. More incidents were received from Tautliner road trucks, as opposed to flatbeds or rail trucks. The incidents are also higher with the open top display cartons, as opposed to the telescopic carton types.
The high-cube pallet had a higher level of damages and lower presentation quality when compared to standard pallets. The pallets did not appear very neat, leaning over, bulging sides, damaged cartons and pallet bases.
Resistance from road transporters to service the citrus industry in Northern areas due to weigh bridge problems, damage claims and higher insurance cost.
Higher incidents of damage repair at receiving cold stores and build-up or breakdown of palletized units to change between standard and high-cube pallet loads.
Increased incidents of pallets collapsing or falling from racking units within cold stores.
Failure of bottom layer cartons due to added weight which was more evident after long handling or storage periods resulting in bruising and squaring of fruit as a result.

Now that was said in 2010 but it was interesting that at the recent Citrus Logistics Forum held in Stellenbosch last month there were views that nothing much has changed!

There have been moves we understand to increase the number of containers to be stuffed with their highcube pallets at the packing house. This makes the "transparency of shipment" even less with the citrus disappearing into the dark recesses of the container only to reappear to the human eye when un-stuffed at
destination.

It is difficult to get an accurate and independent comparison of cargo damage in the container transportation chain against that of the specialized reefer. However, off the record, cargo insurers advise that there is a higher instance of damaged fruit by container mode.

Further it is good to mention in this respect that in 2011 cargo insurers were approached about the 360 Quality concept for specialized reefers. During these ‘road
shows’ it was recognized and confirmed by insurers that claim ratio’s on specialized reefer vessels were significantly better than those for containers. Insurers were enthusiastic about the 360 Quality initiative and stated that entry inspections on vessels can be skipped in case vessels are 360 Quality certified and rebates on
premium can be considered.

Specialized reefers are specialists in temperature management, which is vital for transporting perishables. Reefer specialists are present 24/7 and watch over the
cargo while on board. Regarding the comment that container movement distribution chains are best suited to the needs of supermarkets, one can argue that by their own admission some 80-85% of the container lines’ reefer cargo is carried port to port and thus unstuffed from containers at the vessels’ discharge port into terminals or taken to Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs). Therefore it follows a similar pattern to that of the Specialized Reefer chain.

We at 360 Quality do our best to be "The Myth-busters!"

By John Rowland