Summary of PPECB Procedure for Booking of Dual Temperature Plums

1. Background

Most South African plums must be shipped at dual temperatures to ensure normal ripening upon arrival in overseas markets. If these cultivars are kept too long at low temperatures (below 2°C), internal breakdown may occur, rendering the plums unsalable.

• Plums are cooled to -0.4°C before loading into containers.
• Previously, the temperature was raised to +7.5°C two days after the vessel sailed, then cooled again to -0.4°C after a specified number of days (warming duration: 4–10 days, depending on cultivar and maturity).
• Recent port delays (e.g., wind delays) have led to plums remaining at -0.4°C for extended periods, exceeding the ‘safe’ period at low temperatures. Special measures were needed to raise temperatures in the stacks, not on the vessel.
• Problems also occurred when containers with plums were transshipped onto another vessel at a second South African port.

2. New Procedure

2.1 Dual Temperatures

To address unscheduled port delays, PPECB has introduced a new procedure:

• Exporters must advise PPECB and Shipping Lines of the precise dates when temperature changes are required.
• Changes to temperature settings can be made in the stacks if delays occur.
• Advice to PPECB is via a special Excel Spreadsheet.
• The stuffing date at the loading point is used to determine the specific dates for temperature changes.
• This advice must be sent to the Shipping Line and PPECB as soon as the last container is loaded each day.
• Containers loaded on subsequent days must be added daily, and the form sent to PPECB/Shipping Line.
• The final sheet must reach PPECB/Shipping Line the same day or by 08h00 the next day at the latest.
• Late notification will result in default shipping code regimes and may cause unintended temperature settings.
• Only in exceptional cases will delays be accommodated.
• Step-up dates must be calculated 3 days after the stuffing date.
• PPECB’s Plum Shipping Regime Code List is available on Hortgro’s website (Stone Fruit Handling Protocols) and PPECB’s Regulation Schedule 1 – HP22.

2.3 Inland Conditioning of Plums

• Plums may be cooled inland for 2–3 days at temperatures below 3°C, then loaded out at a set point of +7.5°C.
• Pulp temperatures must be below +3°C at the time of stuffing the container.
• In the Temperature Advice to PPECB, only the date when the plum temperature setting must be reduced to -0.4°C needs to be indicated.

2.4 New Temperature Booking Advice Sheet

Example Table:

• ‘7.5’ denotes inland conditioning.
• Step-up date: 3 days after stuffing.
• Dates remain fixed even if ETD changes.
• All dates must be in the correct format.
• ‘Amendment’ is only used if dates are changed later.

Notes:

• Third/Second/First Day of Stuffing: These refer to the sequence of container loading.
• This procedure ensures temperature regimes are managed according to actual loading, not estimated time of departure.