Expanding its refrigerated container capabilities with an eye toward reducing energy consumption, Seatrade Group N.V. has acquired more than 2,400 Carrier Transicold PrimeLINE container refrigeration units, including 2,000 featuring EDGE energy-saving technology. Carrier Transicold is a part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp.

The PrimeLINE units, installed primarily on 40-foot high-cube containers, have been acquired through lease and are being deployed in all trade routes served by Seatrade. Those with EDGE technology were specified with optional water-cooled condensers to support the under-deck water-cooling system of Seatrade’s newest 2,200-TEU Color Class vessels, the recently launched Seatrade Orange, Seatrade Red, Seatrade White and Seatrade Blue, and two more now being built.

“The PrimeLINE units were selected for their reliability and performance as well as Carrier’s extensive support network,” says Gerben van Zwieten, global manager of container logistics, Seatrade, the world’s largest specialized reefer line, based in Antwerp, Belgium. “Pulldown and temperature control, which tie to cargo quality, and power consumption were all taken into account through three live tests of all refrigeration systems.”

EDGE technology includes a suite of enhancements that improve efficiency by 20 percent over a standard PrimeLINE unit. When enhanced with EDGE technology, the PrimeLINE unit provides the highest efficiency of all Carrier container units available today. The EDGE improvements include digital scroll compressor optimization, a two-speed condenser motor and refined evaporator fan geometry.

Seatrade has more than 65 years experience in the transport of perishables and other sensitive cargoes. It operates a fleet of about 100 specialized reefer vessels, supporting customers’ supply chains. Seatrade has utilized on-deck reefer container capacity since 2000, and ordered its first fully containerized reefer vessels in 2014.