Eight icebreakers to transport bananas from Ecuador to Russia
The export of bananas from Ecuador to Russia prompted Maersk to provide icebreakers for this service…The export of bananas from Ecuador to Russia prompted Maersk to provide icebreakers for this service. "We have a specific, direct fleet. It is the only service from Ecuador to Russia with icebreaker ships. We have invested heavily in Ecuador so that Russia receives all the bananas from Ecuador directly and with good quality," stated Francisco Ulloa, director for the West Coast of Maersk Line.
Maersk arrives in St. Petersburg with an icebreaker fleet of eight ships, as northern Europe is the shipping company's most important export route. Meanwhile, the Russian market is the most relevant market for Ecuador. From January to July, Ecuador shipped 45 million boxes to that market, i.e. 20.63% of the total that Ecuador exported in that period.
"Our containers have controlled atmosphere, which helps the banana reach distant destinations. Exporters know the temperature of the containers and where they are, which allows them to take corrective measures as soon as they detect any problem," Ulloa stated.
According to El Comercio newspaper, Ecuador's foreign trade, where bananas are crucial because they are the main export cargo, is expected to grow by nearly 2% in 2018.
It is worth mentioning that Maersk Line and Hamburg Süd operate independently in Ecuador, although they have joint services on some routes.
Source: mundomaritimo.cl