Damage is being inflicted on the insides of refrigerated containers, an international container body has warned.
The Institute of International Container Lessors is a trade association that represents the marine container leasing and chassis provider industry. It issued a recent statement in which it pointed out that IICL members have noticed instances of “extensive contamination” to the interior of high grade stainless steel panels on refrigerated containers.
Damage has been found to occur on boxes from all IICL members, across all manufacturers and across all container-ages. Concerns have been expressed about the potential damage to refrigeration machinery, container flooring and all other internal components.
“Current indications point to the disinfecting process in China due to COVID-19 protocols as the source of this contamination and damage,” the IICL has said, adding that it is working to gather more information. It has urged container users to share information on the damage.
Organized in 1971, the IICL is a trade association, representing lessors of maritime containers and
intermodal chassis. Its member companies, Beacon Intermodal, CAI, Direct ChassisLink, FlexiVan,
Seaco Global, SeaCube Container, Textainer, TOUAX, TRAC Intermodal, and Triton International
Limited, own or manage a significant portion of the global leased container and U.S. chassis fleet.
