🧊 World's largest refrigerated vessel

February 27, 2026

Welcome back to CubeCold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature controlled logistics.

In today’s edition:

  • Launch of the world's largest 15,000 cbm refrigerated vessel

  • Cold Chain Technologies opens major Mumbai facility

  • Kaleris unveils smarter cold chain orchestration at Manifest 2026

  • Lineage and Americold Earnings Calls highlights

News

Launch of the world's largest 15,000 cbm refrigerated vessel Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering successfully launched the world's largest refrigerated vessel on February 20, marking a milestone in maritime cold chain logistics.

  • Owned by Shanghai Changzheng Shipping Co., Ltd, the vessel measures 146 meters in length and 22 meters in breadth, with a cargo volume of 15,130 cubic meters designed for deep-sea fishing operations.

  • The ship features six independently refrigerated compartments capable of zoned refrigeration reaching temperatures as low as -35°C, ensuring optimal preservation of seafood during transit.

  • Certified by the China Classification Society with Ice Zone Class B navigation capabilities, the vessel meets rigorous safety and operational standards.

  • Shanghai Changzheng Shipping has contracted CIMC SOE to build a total of eight such refrigerated transport vessels, with four currently under construction.(Maritime Fairtrade)

Cold Chain Technologies opens major Mumbai facility Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) has inaugurated a 42,000 sq ft facility in Taloja, Navi Mumbai, marking a significant expansion of its operations in India.

  • The state-of-the-art site integrates CCT's global portfolio with local manufacturing, R&D, and validation capabilities under one roof, offering pharmaceutical and life sciences customers superior quality control and rapid turnaround.

  • Strategically located near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Navi Mumbai International Airports, the facility is well-positioned to serve major pharmaceutical hubs including Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, and Nagpur.

  • Beyond its commercial function, the facility incorporates community engagement initiatives, including an educational tour for local students focused on the logistics of life-saving vaccines.

  • CCT's VP of International Operations, Aman Bhardwaj, described the opening as a symbol of India's growing prominence in the global life sciences supply chain. (CAAS)

  • By integrating its Transportation Management System, Yard Management System, and real-time IoT sensing, ColdLink creates an automatic feedback loop that flags priority cold loads, including fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, and frozen goods, and triggers immediate corrective actions when temperature variances or fuel issues are detected.

  • The solution shifts sequencing from standard First-In, First-Out to First-Expiring, First-Out execution, reducing spoilage and optimizing dock prioritization.

  • Additional features include pre-cooling planning, commodity separation rules, and inbound-outbound continuity to minimize reefer deadhead miles.

  • ColdLink also supports regulatory compliance through auditable chain-of-custody documentation for grocery, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical supply chains. (PR Newswire)

Earnings Calls Highlights

Lineage

  • Lineage returned to a Q4 2025 profit of about $6m (vs. a $71m loss a year ago), with revenue around $1.34bn flat year‑on‑year and warehousing revenue up 4–5% to just over $1.0bn.

  • Q4 adjusted EBITDA was approximately $327m with a 24–25% margin, slightly down year‑on‑year, leaving full‑year 2025 revenue at $5.36bn and adjusted EBITDA $1.30bn, both broadly flat.

  • For 2026, Lineage guides to adjusted EBITDA of $1.25–1.30bn and AFFO per share of $2.75–3.00, with same‑store NOI slightly negative (‑4% to ‑1%), low single‑digit price increases of 1–2%, softer starting occupancy, and some support expected from slowing new capacity. (Yahoo Finance)

Americold

  • Americold reported Q4 2025 GAAP EPS of ‑$0.31 versus consensus near $0.08, largely due to non‑cash items and a $56m loss on real estate sales, while revenue of $658–660m slightly beat expectations.

  • AFFO per share increased modestly to $0.38 in Q4 (up about 3% year‑on‑year) and $1.43 for full‑year 2025, supported by higher economic occupancy and improving services margins.

  • Around 60% of Americold’s rent and storage revenue now comes from fixed‑commitment contracts, and management’s 2026 focus is on organic growth in underpenetrated segments. (Yahoo Finance)

Other headlines

Protran Solutions and Sunswap completed a 1,671km Sydney-Brisbane B-double trial using 100% solar and battery-powered refrigeration, conserving 64 litres of diesel and avoiding 172kg of COâ‚‚, with 62% battery remaining at journey's end.

SeaCube Container Leasing appointed Jakob Karstoft as CCO and Ben Thomas as CFO as part of a growth strategy built on acquisitions and leadership expansion in the cold chain sector.

Alaska Cargo and Cold Storage broke ground on Phase 1 of a cold chain logistics campus at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, starting with 100,000 sq ft of climate-controlled storage, with the full build-out planned at up to 700,000 sq ft to serve Asia-Europe-North America air cargo lanes.

That’s it for this week!

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