Naval support company Fleet Support Limited (FSL) has responded to new UN environmental regulations by investing in technology to prevent harmful bugs moving around the world.
The rules are designed to prevent the spread of the harmful weevil beetle which is a major pest that can cause extensive damage to agricultural crops. The grubs of the weevil are often transported in wooden cargo crates that are handled in every country of the world.
The rules say that all cargo crates must now be treated and without such confirmation goods can be prevented from entering their country of destination.
FSL ships thousands of wooden crates and boxes from Portsmouth Naval Base every year as part of its work in handling the logistics for Royal Navy ships. Most of the boxes are Ministry of Defence stock.
The company has responded to the new regulations by buying a thermo kiln that will treat wooden boxes through baking them at 56 degrees Celsius for at least 30 minutes – a treatment that will be enough to eliminate any harmful weevil bugs.
FSL Services Director Marcus Watson explains: “The new regulations affect every shipper whether it’s commercial or military cargo. This will be the only facility of this type in the Portsmouth area and we intend to make it available for anyone who needs to ship cargoes in wooden boxes.”
The kiln was formally opened at Portsmouth Naval Base by Former Naval Base Commander Commodore Amjad Hussain.
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