Containerisation of perishable cargoes seems to have hit a snag – at least temporarily – as the slump in bunker prices makes conventional reefer ships more competitive again.

According to shipbrokers, a number of freight programes by fruit shippers has been moved back from container lines to specialised reefers in the early stages of the gathering southern hemisphere peak season.

Ecuadorian banana producer Bonita, with its shipping subsidiary Ecuadorian Line, is reported to have reactivated all of its five specialised reefer ships after idling some tonnage last year following a service agreement with container line MSC, brokers say. Fellow banana supplier Banex is believed to have been awarded extra volumes from Polish importer Citronex for the Ecuador/north Europe run that Banex services with charter tonnage from Siem/Star Reefers.

Elsewhere, specialist reefer tonnage has been chartered in for the first time in a while to haul citrus products from North America to Japan, with Stockholm-based reefer ship operator Cool Carriers reportedly fixing a ship for a voyage ex Hueneme, California.

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