Conventional reefer shipping enters new era as specialist logistics providers

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The world’s largest fruit producer Dole is set to place an order for three new reefer vessels as its seeks to modernise its fleet.

Details of the order remain scarce, but Dole said that its board had approved a $165m investment in “three new specially built refrigerated container ships” for its US west coast operations, which will be delivered from 2015 to early 2016, as Dole seeks to reduce the average age of its fleet.

Dole president and chief operating officer Michael ...