MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys have linked up with sister company MSC to use smart containers to guarantee that the freshest produce is loaded onto the lines’ ships after delivery from a warehouse, according to a press release.
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 centralized customer service center in Antwerp, Belgium.
Paolo Raia, Managing Director, MSC Procurement & Logistics, said, “The use of smart containers has made a significant 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 the local production is limited, and some goods can take several weeks travelling from the warehouse to the vessel.
“Another major advantage with smart containers is that in real time we can constantly monitor the humidity and temperature of the goods being transported and change the parameters in transit, if required, to deliver with absolute confidence the freshest and finest food for our guests.”
A problem in transit during the transportation of goods by road or sea triggers an alert to the supplier that can then be resolved ensure that food products that depend on the exact environment for freshness can be delivered without having to dispatch a costly replacement , the company said.
The smart containers are particularly beneficial for chilled and frozen goods such as meat, seafood and dairy produce.