After a career at sea, Harm de Haan started working as marine/cargo surveyor in 1974 and became partner of    P. de Beer & Co b.v. (in 1980) and later director of BMT de Beer b.v., Rotterdam (2002). His specialisation is the transport of perishable cargo. Over more than 25 years, he has been investigating claims and was consultant on the subject to a number of major container operators and carriers of conventional reefer cargo. His advice is also frequently used in casualty incidents, disputes and court cases. He is a member of the ICCT (International Cold Chain Technology, Cambridge) and committee member of the Dutch Institute of Registered Surveyors (Cargo and Transport branch). In 2005 he wrote the book 'De Beer's Consolidated Manual on the Transportation of Perishable Cargo in Reefer Containers'.

Following the ‘Manual on the Transportation of Perishable Cargo in Reefer Containers’, which was received with great enthusiasm by claim handlers, surveyors, lawyers, reefer operators, shippers and all others involved in the transportation of refrigerated cargo, Harm de Haan compiled a ‘Manual on the transportation of Fruit and Vegetables’. 

A useful tool as a reference to quickly verify the recommended optimum carrying temperature, highest freezing point, acceptable maximum temperature upon loading, optimum relative humidity, ventilation rate, expected storage life at recommended temperature, climacteric or non-climacteric produce, ethylene production and sensitivity, recommendations and benefits of modified/controlled atmosphere and seasonal availability on different continents for numerous fruit and vegetables. 

A third manual called 'BMT De Beer's Consolidated Manual on (Dutch) flower bulbs, cut flowers/greens and potted plants' has been compiled recently and is presently distributed amongst clients and posted (against payment) upon request on the website of www.bmtdebeer.com