Singapore Airport Terminal Services Limited (SATS) has announced plans to launch Coolport @ Changi, Singapore’s first on-airport perishables handling centre, in the first quarter of 2010.

To be built at a cost of S$12 million (US$8.23 million), Coolport @ Changi will handle terminal and transit perishables cargo within the Free Trade Zone and will have multi-tiered zones, with diff erent 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. The facility will also have a dedicated system in place to handle urgent medical cargo, strengthening Singapore’s position as Asia’s leading biomedical hub.

Located within SATS Airfreight Terminal 2, it will have an annual operating capacity of approximately 250,000 tonnes, with scope for expansion from the current 8,000 sq.m to 14,000 sq.m and will be designed in accordance with internationally recognised Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) guidelines for food safety.

And important for tapping the growing regional Muslim food supply chain, the facility will also be the fi rst Halal certifi ed air cargo hub for perishables in Asia Pacific. With the key Halal certification the facility will also enable airlines to forward fresh products to the Middle East with Singapore as a distribution centre. The centre will also provide dual warehousing and distribution services.

Specialist perishables cargo freight forwarder, Hellman Perishable Logistics, has been selected as a partner and consultant for Coolport @ Changi.

“We believe Coolport @ Changi will present our airline customers with new opportunities to access new sources of business and help them diff erentiate themselves better,” said SATS president and CEO, Clement Woon who added that some form of post-processing valueadded activities may be included in the facility’s service offerings.

“This new service offering with enhanced cold chain management capabilities at Changi Airport will further differentiate Singapore as a leading air hub in Asia,” added Lee Seow Hiang CEO of the newly corporatised Changi Airport Group. “We look forward to collaborating with SATS and our airline and logistics partners to seize these new growth opportunities moving forward.”