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The latest news of the reefer shipping world

Cool Carriers Celebrates 25 Years in Ecuador by Inaugurating Refrigerated Warehouse

On January 16, the “Guayaquil Banana Gateway” refrigerated warehouses were inaugurated at Contecon’s Pier No. 5 in the Maritime Port of Guayaquil. These state-of-the-art facilities will store perishable products requiring refrigeration prior loading as part of Cool Carriers’ exclusive premium service.

During the inauguration ceremony, Nikolay Pavlyuchenko, General Manager of UNIREEFER, the General Agent of Cool Carriers in Ecuador, Peru, and Argentina, spoke about the Company’s journey:

“Twenty-five years ago, Cool Carriers began operations in Ecuador with just a couple of second-hand ships. Over the years, the maritime transport market has faced significant crises, leading to the disappearance of many shipping companies and mergers between others.

Many believed our shipping company would face the same fate, especially with the growing trend toward containerization, which appeared to leave little room for specialized refrigerated vessels. However, Cool Carriers had a different vision. Instead of building container ships, we invested in reefer ships to serve this niche market. Today, Cool Carriers is a world leader in the transportation of perishable goods, operating a fleet of over 50 modern refrigerated vessels with regular and seasonal services between all continents. These include routes from Chile to the United States, Argentina and Ecuador to St. Petersburg, South Africa to Europe and Asia, and New Zealand to Europe, among others.

Our market position is strong. Reflecting this, we have embarked on an ambitious fleet renewal program, constructing next-generation refrigerated vessels in Japanese shipyard, renowned for their excellence in this type of ship.

With a sophisticated fleet for transporting high-value fruit, we have decided to invest in land infrastructure. Banana exporters in Ecuador have faced various logistical challenges along the decades. With this facility, we aim to address many of these issues, enabling exporters to operate independently of the shipping company, streamline their internal processes, and reduce costs. Producers will be able to harvest their fruit throughout the week, increasing productivity.

We have always prioritized our relationship with clients, offering personalized service and understanding their needs to provide flexibility in every situation. This new cold storage facility is part of our commitment to preserving the quality of Ecuadorian fruit and continuously seeking ways to reduce costs for exporters.”

Pavlyuchenko concluded: “I take this opportunity to thank Sol Medina and Javier Lancha of Contecon, as well as the entire ICTSI group and my team of professionals at UNIREEFER, for their tireless efforts in making this project a reality.”

Cool Carriers announces appointment of Mr. Maxim Nazimok to the position of Group Managing Director effective from 11 November 2024

18.11.2024

Maxim will assume a wide range of responsibilities, including finance, legal, operational, and commercial matters. He will also be charged with transformation of the Group’s business processes and organisational structure to support the rapid expansion of the business in recent years.

Prior to joining Cool Carriers, Mr. Nazimok served as Chief Financial Officer of Solidcore Resources plc, a large publicly listed mining company, since 2017, where he oversaw several largest acquisitions and corporate finance deals, as well as led the company’s major business restructuring in response to the recent geopolitical challenges. Maxim started his career in PricewaterhouseCoopers, the global accounting and auditing firm. He then worked in various finance roles at large privately-owned commercial banks, MDM Bank and Nomos Bank.

Mr. Nazimok holds a BA degree in Economics from St. Petersburg State University and is a Fellow member of ACCA. In 2016, Maxim graduated with distinction from the Executive MBA-Global Programme at London Business School (UK) and Columbia Business School (US).

«We welcome Maxim Nazimok to Cool Carriers team. His experience in large complex businesses and track record of successful business transformation, as well as his broad financial background will help us to take the company to a new level», commented Mikhail Ganyushin, CEO of Cool Carriers.

Cool Carriers Resumes Melon Shipping Service from Brazil to Europe

After 16 years, Cool Carriers is resuming its melon shipping service from Brazil to Europe. The service began with the vessel Wild Peony in week 35, loading 4,452 pallets below deck and 27 containers destined for the ports of Rotterdam and Dover. This voyage is the first of 30 scheduled trips, which will run until week 15, transporting approximately 140,000 tons of melons and watermelons.

The service operates with a weekly ship, starting operations on Wednesdays and setting sail on Saturdays, from week 35 until the end of February 2025. The journey will take 8 days to reach the port of Marin, followed by 2 days of transit to Rotterdam, and 1 day to Dover. This operation is the result of a collaborative effort between Agrícola Famosa, the port authority of Natal (CODERN), and the state of Rio Grande do Norte.

For the inaugural voyage, the leading authorities of Rio Grande do Norte, including Governor Fátima Becerra and her team of state secretaries, visited the port of Natal. They inspected the port infrastructure, the cross-docking facility built for the operation, and the vessel Wild Peony in action. The ship’s captain welcomed the authorities, giving them a tour of the vessel and showcasing the loading operation. This event marks a significant milestone for the state of Rio Grande do Norte, as it generates a substantial amount of direct and indirect employment in Natal, the state capital.

The first docking was attended by Cool Carriers’ Managing Director, Mr. Ricardo Barckhahn, and his team, along with Italo Helbert de Morais, Director of Logistics at Agrícola Famosa, who accompanied the authorities. For Cool Carriers, this represents a major challenge, as well as a source of pride and satisfaction, as the company had offices at the port of Natal for over 18 years until 2008, with Mr. Barckhahn serving as the last manager.

Regarding this new endeavor, Mr. Barckhahn commented, “We are very pleased with this significant milestone achieved through teamwork between Agrícola Famosa and Cool Carriers. We are confident that the relationship we have developed and the trust between us will lead to long-term success. The warm reception we have received from the port community of Natal, especially from its unions, who expressed immense joy at having Cool Carriers’ ships back in Natal from the very first moment, has been both gratifying and encouraging.”

New Maritime Marvel: Cool Carriers, Mitsui&Co., and Nissen Launch the Largest Reefer Vessel "Cool Emerald"

In an impressive expansion of their fleet, Cool Carriers, Mitsui&Co., and Nissen have proudly announced the launch of the «Cool Emerald,» the largest reefer vessel ever constructed, boasting a remarkable capacity of 904,950 cubic feet. This groundbreaking ship represents the fourth addition to their innovative series of reefer ships, dedicated to transforming maritime perishable goods transportation.

The launch event, which took place at Takamatsu, Shikoku Shipyard was attended by executives from all three companies and marked by celebrations highlighting the vessel’s cutting-edge features and environmental efficiencies. The «Cool Emerald» is tailored to meet the growing demands of global trade, offering unparalleled cold storage capabilities and state-of-the-art navigation technologies.

Looking forward, the partnership anticipates the completion of a fifth vessel in this series by December, further solidifying their leadership in the refrigerated cargo sector. This series of vessels underscores the commitment of Cool Carriers, Mitsui&Co., and Nissen to innovation, sustainability, and enhancing their service offerings in the global shipping industry.

On February 21st, a significant event marked a new chapter in the history of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Cool Carriers, in partnership with Contecon Terminal, signed a contract for exclusive use of state-of-the-art cold store, symbolically laying the first stone in a ceremony that heralded a new era of Cool Carriers service from Ecuador.
The cold store, aptly named the «Guayaquil Banana Gateway,» is set to be constructed at the prime location ni front of quay #5, replacing the old dry facility. This development signifies a commitment of Cool Carriers to providing exceptional service to clients and exporters, as
stated by Nikolay Pavlyuchenko, the General Manager of UNIREEFER, representing Cool Carriers in Ecuador.
Pavlyuchenko emphasized the benefits of this new venture, stating, «In a rapidly changing world, we must embrace challenges. This cold store is a testament to our commitment to our clients and exporters. Firstly, exporters will enjoy a cost-effective service with no variable or additional costs. The logistics will be seamless, and operations will no longer be hindered by climate or any other external factors that typically delay inland and port processes. The fruit will receive the best possible treatment.»
He further explained, «Once the banana cartons arrive at the terminal, we take over immediately at the gate of the cold store, ensuring a gentle and swift delivery to our customers at destination, thanks to our direct transit. The simple formula we adhere to is better fruit quality for less cost. Our main value and priority lie in the personal relationships we foster and the quality we deliver to our clients, transcending mere box transportation.»
Cold storage facilities near banana farms offer a significant advantage to shippers by allowing them to store their
produce at optimal temperatures. This strategic placement dramatically reduces postharvest losses, ensuring the quality of the crop.
Introducing a cold storage facility in the harbour will streamline the process of consolidating bananas transported from the packing stations in the farms. This setup allows the fruit to be stored in cold storage days before the vessels’ arrival. Consequently, the ship can start loading the pre-stored fruit immediately upon arrival.
This efficient system enables liners to schedule berthing and loading operations better, maintain a regular schedule in the complex logistics chain. The result is a reduction in costs and an optimization of returns.
«Ecuador is upgrading to the standards of other banana exporting countries once the cold storage is completed,» said Nikolay Pavlyuchenko, highlighting the global trend of utilizing cold storage for handling bananas and other fruits. He cited the port of Davao in the Philippines, where Cool Carriers regularly load, and all the major banana exporters have their cold storage facilities. Some of these facilities have a capacity of around 6,500 square meters.
In conclusion, the advent of cold storage facilities marks a significant step forward in enhancing the efficiency and profitability of banana exports, aligning with global standards and practices.
The consolidation of bananas ni cold storage facilities optimizes the preservation and transport process.
Reefer logistics, a critical component in transporting perishable goods, have remained relatively unchanged for decades. However, the advent of cold storage facilities and the extensive new building program for reefer ships signal a positive shift in the industry. This development is a testament to Cool Carriers’ commitment to leading the way ni reefer operations.
Pavlvuchenko concluded:» UNIREEFER/Cool Carriers expresses gratitude towards its Ecuador partner, Contecon Terminal. Their shared vision of the industry and customer-oriented philosophy have been instrumental in driving these advancements. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of partnerships in enhancing industry
standards and practices»