MSC and Explora Journeys Adopt Smart Container Tech for Enhanced Fresh Produce Delivery

MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys have collaborated with MSC Shipping, a leading entity in container shipping, to integrate smart container technologies that ensure the freshness of food supplies on their vessels. These containers are integrated with sensors to track crucial data including location, temperature, and moisture levels, which are monitored from a centralized customer service center in Antwerp, Belgium.

In the event of any disruption during transit via road or sea, notifications are promptly sent to the supplier to rectify the issue swiftly, thus mitigating the need for expensive replacements. This system is especially beneficial for maintaining the quality of perishable items such as meat, seafood, and dairy products that require specific environmental conditions.

While the majority of their food sources are local — about 96% — MSC and Explora Journeys sometimes need to transport goods from international warehouses. In 2023, the use of smart containers from their Genoa, Italy warehouse facilitated enhanced quality control over traditional transportation methods used previously.

The food logistics operation for MSC is massive, catering to a fleet of 22 ships and annually managing 5,500 varieties of food and beverage products, which includes 32 million eggs, 6 million liters of milk, 170,000 oysters, 2 million tomatoes, 900,000 kg of apples, and 800,000 kg of lemons.