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Delaware’s Port of Wilmington Welcomes First Chilean Fruit Vessel to US for 2015-16 Season

[ December 23, 2015   //   ]

The Port of Wilmington, Delaware received its first breakbulk shipment of Chilean winter fruit to the US. This makes the sixth consecutive season for these shipments.

The m/v Pacific Mermaid, a specialized refrigerated vessel operated by Trans Global Shipping NV in the Global Reefers service, was welcomed on Tuesday, December 15th. The Pacific Mermaid discharged over 618,450 boxes of fresh cherries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and table grapes.

Wilmington is a major port of entry and distribution center for the seasonal importation of fresh Chilean winter fruit. During this season, the port anticipates receiving at least 25 shiploads of fruit from the Chilean ports of Valparaiso, Coquimbo, and Caldera. Global Reefers is the sole shipping line providing an express service direct from Chile to the Port of Wilmington.

“The arrival of the Pacific Mermaid marks the sixth year in a row that the First State has had the opportunity to receive the initial breakbulk shipment of Chilean winter fruit, not only on the Delaware River but in the US,” said Gene Bailey, the Port’s Executive Director.

The cargo is stored in the Port’s 800,000 sq. ft. on-dock refrigerated warehouse complex, one of North America’s largest, before distribution throughout Canada and the eastern region of the US.

The Port handled over 18,650,000 boxes of Chilean fruit in the 2014-15 season – a 10% increase over the previous season.

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