A.P. Moller – Maersk has begun the roll-out of a new generation of Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity devices for its fleet of refrigerated containers, with the company aiming to install the new devices on all reefers in its fleet over the coming years.
“As real-time access and data availability grow increasingly vital for our cold chain customers, the deployment of our next‑generation IoT devices will provide them with a much more reliable data flow throughout the container journey,” said Bruce Marshall, Head of Reefer Cargo at Maersk.
“Our fleet’s new digital platform has created a solid foundation for the future. The next step is to replace all existing IoT devices across our reefer fleet with the latest generation of technology, and we have already begun this work.”
“After years of operating with several generations of devices, this upgrade will standardise our devices and deliver a more consistent customer experience.”
Currently, Maersk is in the process of completing the roll-out of its new digital connectivity platform aboard 450 vessels. Since 2019, the company has offered customers access to the AI-powered visibility product Captain Peter, which allows users to monitor cargo from the moment the goods are sealed in the container through to delivery at the final destination.
“For reefer customers, confidence that data is always available is crucial. That experience will improve markedly once our entire reefer fleet is fitted with the latest generation of connectivity devices,” adds Mr Marshall.
“The upgrade will also provide the building blocks to introduce new features that will further strengthen the customer offering in the future. We want to pivot our current offering from being just a visibility product to being an intelligent tool that helps customers interpret data and provide recommended actions.”
To date, Maersk has installed the new devices on around 30 per cent of its total reefer fleet. The upgraded hardware offers significantly more processing power than previous iterations and supports 4G and 5G connectivity, while remaining backwards-compatible with 2G and 3G networks. To ensure always-on connectivity, the devices harvest energy via solar panels.
