A new state-of-the-art cargo container manufactured in Bermuda made its debut voyage when it visited the Island this week.

Bermuda Container Line introduced the new freeze/cooler container on board the Oleander cargo vessel when it arrived on the Island on Sunday.

The container, produced by Island Intermodal Systems Ltd in Hamilton, enables one container to have two different temperatures to suit both chilled and frozen goods at the same time.

Since the conception of containerisation in the late 1960s, many shipping and other transportation companies have struggled to find equipment that is simple and suitable for different products.

After two years of extensive research and development of the unit, at first with military applications in mind, Island Intermodal's prototype finally passed critical thermal tests by military and civil authorities around the world.

A spokesman for the company said the new container has proved to have a capability to deliver highly temperature-sensitive foods in first class condition.

The spokesman said: "The prototype unit was used by the military in a remote area of Afghanistan as part of the ground support system and used in conjunction with an additional diesel generator set."

And Les Richards, managing director of Island Intermodal, said it was always gratifying when an initial idea turned into reality.

But when Bermuda Container Line (BCL) heard about the prototype unit, it immediately saw its benefit for the Bermuda market.

BCL suggested some modifications to the original unit to better suit its service needs and placed an order for a test unit.

Mr. Lewis, vice president of the shipping agency, said the company was so pleased with the results of the first shipment this week, the company planned to introduce more dual reefers into service in the first few months of next year.