Brixham, Plymouth, UK: Dartmouth Crab Company has taken delivery of its first Carrier Transicold Vector HE 19 fridge fitted to a 13.6m Gray & Adams built reefer.
The new trailer joins six other already in operation modified to transport live shellfish in the UK and continent.
“The nature of the product we transport means we need a powerful trailer refrigeration system that’s up to the task,” said Dylan Huxley, transport manager, Dartmouth Crab Company.
“However, because we operate long delivery routes, noise levels are a major consideration for our drivers when they’re parked overnight. The new Vector HE 19 unit is definitely one of the quietest systems out there, so we’ve certainly ticked that box.”
The new trailer is fitted with with tanks, air pumps and a myriad of pipe work to aerate the sea water and keep up to 11-tonnes of shellfish in prime condition. The trailers load shellfish from the company’s crabbing vessels in Devon and Caithness, Scotland.
“It’s vitally important that we maintain a consistent temperature in both the trailer and sea water. Because the shellfish are transported live, their natural body heat, coupled with friction created by the aeration process, means the load is constantly trying to warm up, which has to be countered by the fridge unit,” Huxley said.
“When delivering into southern France and Spain we also have to factor in the temperature differential between the water where the product was caught and where it will be stored, meaning we allow the load to naturally warm up slightly prior to delivery. The refrigeration system has its work cut out on every journey.”
“We hadn’t ruled out trying a competitor system, but the personal service we received from Carrier Transicold when we made our initial enquiry was exceptional. They went above and beyond to accommodate our requirements, and once we’d seen how the new Vector HE 19 unit was lighter, more fuel efficient and more environmentally friendly, the decision to stick with Carrier was a simple one,” Huxley said.
Dartmouth Crab Company has no replacement policy for its trailers and because of the high cost of the modified trailers aims to operate them for as long as possible. The company currently runs five MAN TGX tractors, rotating its seven trailers to maximise their lifespan.
