Reefer ships stage a comeback, thanks to cheap oil, but more perishables are shipped in boxes

Further containerisation of seaborne perishable is happening, despite a slowdown in conventional reefer vessel scrapping in 2015.

According to new analysis by Dynamar, conventional reefer ship scrapping is at its lowest level since 2007, with only five vessels scrapped last year compared with 65 in 2011.

Dirk Visser, Dynamar’s senior shipping consultant, said: “Because of the sharp decline of oil and associated bunker prices – $300 a ton at the start of 2015 to $130 12 months later – many elderly, fuel-guzzling dedicated reefer vessels suddenly became competitive again.”

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