Singapore: According to a press communiqué available on Carrier’s website, container shipping line company, Maersk Line has ordered the first 100 of a total of 200 Carrier Transicold’s NaturaLINE refrigerant containers, which is said to be using the ‘natural’ refrigerant – CO₂.

The refrigerant, the communiqué said, is safe and a non-ozone depleting gas with a global warming potential (GWP) of one. The communiqué added that the refrigerant is classified as A1 for low toxicity and no flame propagation.

The NaturaLINE units, the communiqué revealed, are being installed on 40-foot high-cube containers with anticipated delivery in the first quarter. Maersk Line, it added, will initially deploy the units on closed-loop routes between Europe and the Americas, with crew and landside training on unit operation and service already underway.

“To meet our sustainability goals and stay ahead of the new EU legislation, Maersk Line is keen to carefully evaluate all alternatives to the current synthetic refrigerants,” said Ingrid Uppelschoten-Snelderwaard, Head of Global Equipment, Maersk Line. “The NaturaLINE system is an advanced technology with interesting potential for reefers. We chose it after laboratory testing of the unit’s performance with perishable and frozen commodities and look forward to gaining further operational experience with the system.”

David Appel, president, Carrier Transicold & Refrigeration Systems, added: “We are pleased that Maersk Line sees potential in the NaturaLINE unit to help it achieve its ambitious sustainability goals. Carrier shares Maersk Line’s goals of improving the efficiency and sustainability of global container shipping, which protects the world’s perishable food supply and other goods as they move through the cold chain to the consumer.”