Logistics company Hamburg Sud has launched its new Remote Container Management (RCM) technology for customers' reefer container shipments.

The company describes the move as a "game-changer", saying the technology will help to maintain the quality of perishable cargo.

RCM monitors parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, and the concentrations of O₂ and CO₂ in real-time.

The added value of using RCM is that it enables customers to use this data to monitor their supply chain better, it says. As a special feature the data of the cargo probes for Cold Treatment cargo are available online.

“With RCM, we are combining the best of both worlds for our reefer customers: digital state-of-the-art technology, which is already tailored as much as possible to individual requirements, in addition to a personal service that can be accessed at any time,” says Frank Smet, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of Hamburg Süd.

The whole reefer container fleet of Hamburg Süd and Maersk has been outfitted with the necessary technology. Recent months have been spent carrying out test shipments and developing the digital customer interface.

The online application can be accessed via PC, tablet or smartphone.

Once registered customers have logged in, they will receive an overview of the reefer containers they have booked as well as information on ports of departure and destination, container numbers and vessel names.

The “Journey Log” shows all the important events of the container transport, such as delivery to the terminal.

If critical limit values are exceeded or not maintained, Hamburg Süd’s operations team also receives an alarm notification.