MASkargo Runs Rehearsals For Actual Vaccine Carriage

In preparing for the actual arrival of the vaccines, the MASkargo team conducted two different readiness exercises. 

On 15 Feb 2021, MASkargo successfully conducted a dry run of the ultra-low temperature vaccine shipment from Amsterdam.A custom-built box of ‘vaccine’ packed according to the requirements with 10kg of dried ice was uplifted on MH6125 and placed on a normal PMC in the lower deck of the MASkargo freighter. The box is able to maintain up to -70°C for 96 hours without any cold storage. 

The flight departed Amsterdam on Sunday 14 Feb 2021 at 2100hrs local time and arrived in KLIA at 0820hrs the next morning. 

“We are very pleased with the results of this mock shipment. The data logger recorded consistent temperature reading throughout the flight. The vaccines are temperature-sensitive. Hence temperature control throughout the journey is vital in ensuring that the quality of the product is not compromised”, said Mohd Zulkefly Ujang, MASkargo’s Chief Operations Officer who led the exercise. 

Following the success of the shipment on the MASkargo freighter, a second exercise was conducted. This time it was to test the handling efficiency at the local and rural area stations and it was done with the participation of Pharmaniaga Berhad. 

Two boxes of medical supplies were received from Pharmaniaga destined for the Lawas Hospital in Sarawak. On the morning of 18 February, the goods were flown into Miri on a B738 flight MH2574 at 0910hrs. Upon arrival, the shipment was then stored while waiting for the next leg of the journey into Lawas. This time the goods were moved on MASwings DHC-6 aircraft bearing flight number MH3514. This shipment did not have any dry ice inside its packaging, only ice gel packs which kept the temperature in the boxes between 2-8 Celcius. 

On the whole, the exercises proved to be successful much to the joy of the team in AMS, KUL, MYY and LWY. The success of the exercises is a testament of MASkargo and MAG’s readiness and expertise in moving valuable temperature-sensitive shipments. 

“It really was a team effort to make sure everything went without a hitch. We had several coordination meetings to iron out the details with the different teams involved. I am happy to share that all our efforts have come to fruition”, commented Che Adenan Che Wan, MASkargo’s Head of Freighter Unit cum project organiser.