Sumitomo Corporation and Orient Overseas Container Line Limited (OOCL) have signed a business alliance agreement to provide refrigerated ocean transport.
The transport utilises electric field technology and realises the long-term preservation of freshness for several commercial products, according to OOCL.
Sumitomo Corporation established an electric field container procurement system with the cooperation of Daiichi Institution Industry Co., Ltd., which manufactures and sells electric field-related equipment, and OOCL.
The corporation obtained patents, including one for a “food transportation method” that lowers the non-freezing temperature of food products and improves the freshness retention effect by shrink-packing the food products with a high degree of vacuum in an electric field environment.
The signatories aim to establish a new standard for freshness-preserving logistics by developing refrigerated ocean transport based on this service and realise ocean transportation of non-freezing chilled products from distant locations.
READ: OOCL Q4 revenues plummet despite container growth
International transportation of perishable products faces challenges to be transported in the shortest possible transit time in ocean transportation, and high-cost burden in air transportation.
OOCL reported that to expand food supply areas and ensure a stable supply of products, a service that enables long-term ocean transportation utilising refrigerated storage technology with minimal quality loss is necessary.
By meeting the demands of regions seeking to promote the export of fresh food products, OOCL aims to contribute to the stable supply of food products through diversification of supply locations; this would in turn aid in minimising food loss by extending expiration dates and reducing GHG emissions.
Late last year, OOCL expanded its service network for Japan and the Philippines by introducing its new KTX4 Service.
More recently, the carrier unveiled its latest mega containership, the OOCL Abu Dhabi.
