1. Home
  2. / Economy
  3. / Maersk system allows remote monitoring of loads with refrigerated products
reading time 3 min read

Maersk system allows remote monitoring of loads with refrigerated products

Written by Junior Aguiar
Published 30/08/2022 às 20:44
maersk, cargo, refrigerated, monitoring
The main destination for refrigerated cargo is China

Remote Container Management allows customers of the Danish company to track the condition of perishable cargo in real time

A AP Moller – Maersk, the Danish company with the greatest navigation power on the planet, has a refrigerated cargo monitoring system. The so-called Remote Container Management (RMC – Remote Container Management) allows customers to monitor, in real time, the condition of perishable cargo. Thus, the quality of the products is evaluated at all times, generating a high level of efficiency and satisfaction of more than 3.600 customers in the cold chain.

The Danes operate in the refrigerated segment with reefer containers together with Hamburg Sud. Maersk's digital monitoring system (RCM) is installed in its more than 380 refrigerated containers, informing, in addition to temperature, humidity, CO2 emissions and GPS location of cargo, and notifies the customer if something needs attention

“With Captain Peter (as the monitoring platform that has the look and feel of a regular smartphone app is called), we are significantly elevating the customer experience of working with the data and building the foundation to provide even more advanced capabilities around it. ”, explains Maersk Reefer Digital Development Manager Ken West.

The main Brazilian ports from which refrigerated products depart for the world are: Santos (SP), Itajaí (SC), Paranaguá (PR), Itapoá (SC) and Rio Grande (RS). The main destination for refrigerated cargo is China, followed by the Middle East, West Africa and South Africa. 

Refrigerated cargo numbers and challenges

Frozen poultry, beef and pork are the main products exported from Brazil in refrigerated containers, followed by concentrated juices and fresh fruit.

This year, the country exported beef to 132 countries. China alone bought over US$ 3,6 billion of food, which represents an increase of 86% in relation to the same period last year (US$ 1,96 billion).

In relation to Brazilian exports of chicken meat, this year totaled more than 2,8 million tons. The number is 6% higher than the total shipped in the same period in 2021 (2,6 million), resulting in US$5,620 billion.

Pork exports totaled 4,6 thousand tons in 2022, which represents an average balance of 8,2% lower than that registered in the same period of 2021 (453,9 thousand tons).

For many years, products transported in refrigerated cargo leaving Brazil were spoiled in large quantities due to inadequate temperature or due to challenges with shipments.

It also happens that many refrigerated export companies are located in cities in the interior, where containers with perishable products are transported by train or truck, which makes it difficult to track all shipments with the level of complexity that such a large global operation implies. . Therefore, the Remote Container Management deployed by Maersk should also contribute in this regard.

Refrigerated cargo transport: how does it work?

The transport of refrigerated cargo is known as reefer. Companies that operate in this sector must comply with legislation specific to the segment. Standards and laws require special care practices regarding food temperature, above all.

In case of non-compliance, the loads can be seized, also causing fines and other punishments depending on the seriousness of the case. The lack of proper packaging in the transport and storage of these foods makes commercialization unfeasible or can cause serious health risks.

The reefer is a 20 or 40-foot container, with a refrigeration system and made of steel or aluminum. The equipment must have a 10-centimeter polyurethane thermal insulation and stainless steel internal finish. The refrigeration system has: compressor, condenser, air inlet, external controller, expansion device and internal evaporator.

Junior Aguiar

Journalist, graduated from the Catholic University of Pernambuco | Web content producer, analyst, strategist and communication enthusiast.

Share across apps