SATS to launch 1st perishables handling centre

SATS    HANDLING CENTRE    PERISHABLE CARGO

Singapore - Singapore Airport Terminal Services (SATS) will launch the nation's first on-airport perishables handling centre, Coolport@Changi, in the first quarter of 2010.

Built at a cost of approximately S$12 million (US$8.3 million) and spanning 8,000 sqm, Coolport@Changi will be the first dedicated on-airport facility in Singapore for handling terminal and transit perishables cargo within the Free Trade Zone.

Clement Woon,  president and CEO of SATS, said, "We believe Coolport@Changi will present our airline customers with new opportunities to access new sources of business and help them differentiate themselves better."

The centre will comprise of multi-tiered zones, with different temperatures ranging from -28°C to 18°C, to handle a wide range of commodities such as live seafood, ornamental fish, meats, fresh produce and flowers, said SATS.

Coolport@Changi will also cater to warehousing and distribution needs, live tanking, inventory management & control, and ripening facilities to provide a complete cool chain logistics solution, the company said.

In addition the centre will have dedicated system to handle urgent medical cargo, strengthening Singapore's position as Asia's leading biomedical hub in the process.

Beh Swan Gin, MD of the Economic Development Board (EDB) said, "The presence of industry leaders enables Singapore to be a lead market for perishable supply chains in sectors such as pharmaceuticals. Coolport@Changi will enhance Singapore's positioning as an efficient, secure and reliable node for the perishables market in Asia."

Located within SATS Airfreight Terminal 2, the centre will have an annual operating capacity of approximately 250,000 tonnes.

Hellman Perishable Logistics, a specialist in the area of perishables cargo freight forwarding, has been selected as a partner and consultant for Coolport@Changi.

According to Glenn Turner, regional director of Hellmann Perishable Logistics, the partnership agreement with SATS has been signed for a period of two years.

 

"While global air cargo traffic has fallen quite sharply over the last nine months or so, perishables air cargo traffic has been holding up nicely," Woon said. "No doubt, greater market awareness of food safety and demand for fresh produce has had a part to play in the growth of the perishables cargo sector."

With the expected launch of Coolport@Changi next year, 30 SATS staff are set to undergo a rigorous training program to operate the handling centre, said Woon. 

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