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New Seatrade Vessel M/V Santa Catharina Calls Wilmington The Port of Wilmington will welcome the arrival of Seatrade Reefer Chartering's newest vessel, the "M/V Santa Catharina", on her maiden voyage, on Tuesday November 21st, with a reception aboard the vessel. Seatrade, who is one of the world's major reefer shipping lines, will utilize the "Santa Catharina" in its Australia - U.S. East Coast meat service, C&S Shipping Australia, which is a joint service with Cool Carriers, another leading reefer carrier. Earlier this year, C&S Shipping nominated Wilmington as it's new US East Coast port of call for the import and distribution of frozen beef, and made it the nation's leading Port for imports of frozen beef. |
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Since the first C & S Shipping vessel arrived in Wilmington last January, the Port has received over 50,000 tons of Australian beef, which is used mainly for hamburgers and other types of processed meat. The "Santa Catharina" is carrying over 6,500 metric tons of frozen meat this voyage. |
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The
"M/V Santa Catharina" carried the meat from several
Australian ports, including Townsville, Port Alma and Brisbane on the
northeast coast. After discharge at the Port of Wilmington, the
Australian beef will be inspected and cleared for entry by the US
Department of Agriculture - Food Safety and Inspection Service personnel
stationed at the Port. Most of the meat is stored at Cold Chain
Distribution Services' cold storage warehouses, located at the Port.
From Wilmington, the imported beef is destined primarily for US meat
grinders, processors and fast food suppliers, who blend it with American
beef to produce higher quality and better tasting hamburgers.
The Port of Wilmington and Cold Chain Distribution Services will welcome the "M/V Santa Catharina" and her Master, Captain Molen, with a plaque presentation ceremony at noon on Tuesday. The vessel was built as sister vessel to the Santa Maria and Santa Lucia in the Kitanihon shipyard in Japan, and was delivered on November 10th, 2000. She is 469 feet long, and has a total capacity for 4,000 reefer-pallets under-deck and 200 TEU's of reefer containers on deck. The state-of the-art vessel is self-sustaining with the operating capabilities of two 40-ton cranes and two 8-ton cranes. She can sail at a maximum speed of 21 knots, and is operated by 18 crewmembers. Founded
in 1923, the Port
of Wilmington is an important asset for the local and
regional economy, generating over 4,900 jobs and contributing over $16
million in annual tax revenues to State and local government. The
Port is owned and operated by the Diamond State Port Corporation, a
corporation of the State of Delaware. For further information,
digital photos, free tours of the Port and free speakers contact: Vered
Nohi-Becker, Marketing Services Manager at the Port of Wilmington @
(302) 472-7819, e-mail: vnbecker@port.state.de.us
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