The Mid-Atlantic seaport received the first breakbulk shipment of Chilean winter fruit to arrive in the United States for the sixth consecutive season.
The Port of Wilmington, Del. received the first breakbulk shipment of Chilean winter fruit to arrive in the United States for the sixth consecutive season on Tuesday, the port said.
The 618,450 boxes of perishable goods arrived aboard the Pacific Mermaid, a 10,466-ton dwt specialized refrigerated vessel operated by Trans Global Shipping NV in the Global Reefers service. The produce shipments included fresh cherries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, nectarines and table grapes.
The transit time from Chile to Wilmington is approximately 12 days, according to Global Reefers’ website.
Global Reefers is the sole shipping line to offer an express service directly from Chile to the Port of Wilmington, the Port of Wilmington said.
Once cargo arrives, it is stored at the port’s 800,000-square-foot on-dock refrigerated warehouse complex before it is distributed to Canada and the eastern region of the United States.
The Port of Wilmington expects to receive at least 25 shiploads of fruit from the Chilean ports of Valparaiso, Coquimbo and Caldera this season. During the 2014-15 season, the port handled over 18.65 million boxes of Chilean fruit, a year-over-year increase of 10 percent.
Based out of Valparaiso, Chile, Global Reefers was established in 2013 by Seatrade, the world largest operator of refrigerated ships, and Pacific Seaways, a group of Chilean fruit exporters.
Port of Wilmington, Del. receives first breakbulk shipment of Chilean winter fruit
