SHANDONG: Shandong Ocean Cold Chain Development (SDOCC), part of the Chinese state-owned Shandong Shipping Corporation, has taken delivery of the mv Ocean Star.

Said to be China's first ultra-low temperature reefer ship, the 4,695 DWT Ocean Star was built in Kyokuyo Shipyard in Japan, having been commissioned in May 2020 as part of a collaboration with Itochu Logistics.

Five crew members were dispatched to Shimonoseki, Japan, in late October to sail Ocean Star to SDOCC, which is based in Qingdao. Ocean Star arrived in Qingdao this month.

Compared with conventional reefer ships, which have storage temperatures of between -30 degrees and 30 degrees, Ocean Star can store cargoes at -55 degrees. Ultra-low temperature reefer ships are mainly used to transport and process high-end ocean catches such as tuna.

SDOCC is active in cold chain logistics, focusing on aquatic products. The company’s collaboration with Itochu Logistics involved the establishment of a joint venture, Shandong I-Logistics, with the parties owning 70% and 30%, respectively. As Chinese shipyards lack the know-how to build ultra-low temperature reefer ships, Ocean Star was built in Japan.