MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys have linked up with sister company MSC, a world leader in container shipping, to use smart containers guaranteeing the freshest produce is loaded onto cruise ships from warehouses.
Each smart container is fitted with internet-connected devices to collect data such as position, temperature and humidity, and monitored remotely around the clock from a centralised customer service centre in Antwerp, Belgium.
Paolo Raia , Managing Director of MSC Procurement Logistics, said: The use of smart containers has made a significantly positive impact on the supply of food, especially in markets where it is a challenge to source and acquire all of the products locally. For example, for our ships in the Middle East, local production is limited and some goods can take several weeks travelling from the warehouse to the vessel.
A problem in transit during the transportation of goods by road or sea triggers an alert to the supplier, which can be resolved en route to ensure foods that depend on the environment for freshness are delivered without costly replacement.
The smart containers are particularly beneficial for chilled and frozen goods such as meat, seafood and dairy produce.
