APL Sets Up Industry's First Customized CA Test Chamber

APL Takes the Guesswork out of Shipping Perishables with the Industry’s First Customized Controlled Atmosphere Chamber

The extremely delicate nature of perishables like mangoes, asparagus and blueberries has traditionally made exporters turn to air freight as its faster transit keeps them fresh for transportation to distant markets. The paradigm has shifted with the introduction of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) technology – making ocean transport an economically viable alternative to air freight for the shipping of fresh produce.

APL has come a long way from being the first ocean carrier to ship asparagus from US California to Japan. Today, it is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading reefer players in the use of CA, and has a proven track record in helping customers break into new, more distant markets by manipulating the ripening rate of fresh produce.

“APL continues to be a forerunner with innovations that push the boundaries of the reefer industry,” said Goh Ah Huat, Technical Services Director of Global Reefer Trade. “We leverage on our wealth of experience in perishable cargo management and understanding of global trends to develop feasible solutions that will help our customers derive cost savings and capitalize on opportunities.”

Controlled Atmosphere (CA) is one of the most technologically advanced processes to precisely control the atmospheric composition within the container throughout a shipment’s entire journey. Computer systems control the composition of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases inside a container, effectively inhibiting the aging process for perishables and extending their shelf-life.

“The composition of CA is commodity-specific as atmospheric conditions are custom-tailored to provide an optimum environment for each commodity,” said Ah Huat. “Currently, most industry players rely on their experience, and a combination of trial and error to determine the right CA conditions for the commodity. This is a costly process that most shippers are unwilling to consider.”

APL’s latest innovation is the setting up of a customized CA test chamber in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. This allows customers to conduct trials simulating the optimal CA conditions for ocean transportation of different commodities on a smaller scale.

Using computer systems to monitor and control the temperature and gas levels in the customized chamber, APL’s CA simulation helps customers take the guesswork out of shipping their perishables by determining the optimal variables and manipulating the ripening rate of specific products.

The advantages that the test CA chamber provides are numerous. Shippers have the opportunity to implement trials for various kinds of fresh produce in small quantities before they start the actual shipments. Consequently, this helps them realize significant cost-savings, as the precise conditions for shipping their produce are pre-determined, thereby minimizing damage to their cargo at final destination.

APL’s first test chamber was set up in Kaohsiung in December 2006.

“The use of CA in Asian markets such as Taiwan is still in its infancy, and APL has the potential to be a leading player in this segment,” said Wong Siew Loong, Managing Director, APL Taiwan. “Our Kaohsiung test chamber is an industry first and demonstrates our commitment to help our customers tap into new markets and opportunities.”

The first CA trial conducted recently for a major exporter of tropical fruits was a success.

Papayas were stored in the test chamber and the chamber’s conditions were monitored continuously. At the conclusion of the simulated freight duration, the papayas demonstrated a shelf life similar to that of fresh produce available in the supermarkets.

Happy with the results, the customer has engaged APL to ship its first batch of papayas to North America when the season starts in April 2007.

APL’s Global Reefer Trade is currently exploring joint simulations for other perishables such as mangoes, bell peppers, starfruits and other exotic tropical fruits and vegetables. Potential demand for the customized chamber is high, with other customers expressing interest in the test chamber facility to be available in their markets.

“We are continuously trying to raise the bar and improve our CA service in order to provide greater value to our customers. Although the test chamber in Kaohsiung has just started, we are excited by the interest it has generated and will explore the feasibility of extending this service in due course,” said Ah Huat.