Hamburg Süd is meeting transportation requirements for pharmaceutical products specified by the World Health Organization and European Commission by installing software developed by the container manufacturer Carrier.
Reefer equipment is subject to the particularly strict guidelines of the Good Distribution Practice (GDP) scheme.
It stipulates that the temperature-regulating sensors of the reefer machinery not only monitor each other automatically, but also that calibration has to take place, and be documented, at regular intervals.
Hamburg Süd said it will be able to upgrade its reefer container fleet accordingly at short notice and on demand as part of the customary pre-trip inspection (PTI), meeting the requirements of a calibration process as of July.
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The demand for medicines is rising worldwide and, with it, the shipment volumes in this segment due to growth in the global population.
Frank Smet, Member of the Executive Board of Hamburg Süd, said: “With our new offering, we can respond even better to the complex requirements of our customers and provide a high-grade and significantly cheaper alternative to airfreight.
“At the same time, we are positioning ourselves in a strategically important growth market.”