This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cool Logistics Conference, taking place in Antwerp, The Netherlands, October 2-3.
Worry that the current cost structure of the shipping industry is forcing increasing inefficiency and risk in the cold chain, with the potential to compromise quality for the end customer, is spurring some perishables shippers to reach out to shipping lines to find better logistical solutions. This current concern about the ocean freighted perishables industry forms the backdrop of the annual ‘Great Reefer Debate’ at the Cool Logistics Global Conference & Exhibition.
Not only is there increased concern that refrigerated containers are so often not where they are needed, when they are needed, but there are increased reports of ships not sailing when they are scheduled to. Unacceptable delays are forcing more shippers to claim, and while some logistics service providers are developing new and better solutions, there is growing frustration that these are not always able to be utilized when ships are late.
What this will mean for the ocean freight cold chain is ultimately in the hands of all the parties involved. Can the industry work together to ensure better reliability? Can new sustainable technological solutions be adopted to deliver better quality perishable produce? Or is the maritime industry looking at a swing from fresh to frozen – and will airfreight carriers be the winners?
All these questions and more will be tackled on day 1 of Cool Logistics Global 2018. Ronald Veldman of industry analyst Seabury will set the scene in the morning by presenting an overview of just which perishable commodities are currently moving where and how. This insight will be followed by a thought-provoking speech from David Sussmann on how global warming and demographic trends relate to the seafood trade. Mr Sussmann is CEO of seafood supplier Seafoodia and Pure Océan, an initiative to support marine biodiversity and sustainability. He will also join with Chris Swartz, Director Global Transportation & Logistics Services at AJC International, Inc., the world’s largest non-processor provider of protein products, on the opening shipper panel.
AJC along with other shippers and retailers will raise topics such as transport capacity, cost implications of environmental shipping regulations including the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA), disruption as a function of new technologies, retail cost pressures and implications of e-commerce.
