Shippers across the globe transport different types of refrigerated cargo across international borders to cater to the rising demands of the supply chain. Goods such as meat, fruits, vegetables, beverages, and pharmaceuticals are constantly in high demand. Shipping temperature-sensitive goods across long distances while preserving their quality and shelf life is challenging. Reefer containers and reefer vessels help transport perishables in a temperature-controlled environment. It helps prevent cargo damage due to temperature fluctuations, promotes the availability of seasonal goods around the year, and ensures supply chain efficiency. Let us learn more about the types of refrigerated cargo and how to ship them.

What is refrigerated shipping?

Refrigerated shipping is the transportation of temperature-sensitive shipments, such as perishables, across international borders or to domestic locations. It is also known as reefer shipping and can be done using various modes of transport, such as trains, trucks, ships, and planes. Different types of refrigerated goods are placed inside a temperature-regulated environment and packed appropriately to maintain the temperature and moisture throughout the transit. Reefer containers are a type of shipping container specifically used for moving perishables from one location to another.

Refrigerated shipping is a vital component of the cold chain logistics system. It allows various industries to import and export refrigerated goods across the globe. It also allows customers worldwide to have an all-time availability of frozen and fresh goods. Let’s learn more about the types of perishables transported by various industries to keep up with the demands of the supply chain.

What are the types of refrigerated cargo?

Depending on the nature of refrigeration needed, different types of perishables are shipped in reefer containers. Let us learn more about them.

1. Food products – Consumable food such as fruits, vegetables, meat, seafood, and ice cream are commonly shipped from countries with surplus production to countries with demand for them during off-seasons. While meat is shipped in a frozen state, fruits and vegetables do not need that low temperature. Therefore, every item must be packed and shipped based on cargo needs.
2. Dairy products – Milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, and other dairy by-products are also shipped internationally. Since these products are extremely temperature sensitive and may get soiled under temperature fluctuations, appropriate refrigeration units with backups are necessary.
3. Bakery products – Cookies, chocolates, and other confectionery items are also transported to far-off locations to be tasted as exotic food. Though these goods do not require an extremely cold environment, they must be preserved at a standard temperature to maintain their shelf life.
4. Pharmaceutical products – Medicines, vaccines, and biochemical products are constantly shipped across the globe to advance science and conduct experiments. Such cargo is extremely temperature sensitive, and placement in reefer containers helps preserve the efficacy of medical supplies upon reaching their destination.
5. Plants and flowers – The global market demands tropical and exquisite flowers and plants. Every shipping company aims to maintain the freshness of plants and flowers. It is also essential to regulate the humidity and store these goods in a controlled environment to prevent them from rotting or dying.
6. Beverages – Drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, are transported in barrels and other storage boxes. Fruit juices, dairy-based drinks, and alcohol are sent in reefer containers to preserve their taste, quality, and freshness.

Packing material for reefer goods

The packaging of temperature-sensitive shipments is done using specialised materials. Let us learn more about the various kinds of packaging materials for refrigerated goods.

1. Styrofoam – This material is commonly used to pack frozen or cold products, as it helps prevent heat transfer. Made from polystyrene foam, it can be cut into sheets and layered on top of and between perishables to provide insulation. Dairy and meat products are transported by packing them using styrofoam.
2. Dry ice – Shipments such as pharmaceuticals are transported at extremely low temperatures offered by dry ice. It comes in many forms, such as snow, pellets, and blocks. Since dry ice is frozen carbon, it requires specialised handling, and warning signs must be handled carefully. This dry ice is stored in boxes where the goods are carefully placed with the box lid closed to ensure temperature control.
3. Gel packs – Gel packs are the appropriate storage solution for goods that do not require extremely low temperatures. Dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and medicines that do not require freezing temperatures but a cold environment are tightly packed using gel packs.

These are the commonly used packaging materials that assist in the shipping of different types of refrigerated cargo.

How are refrigerated goods transported?

Refrigerated shipping is a step-by-step procedure that must be followed to ensure the secure shipping of cargo across international borders without any cargo damage. Different types of refrigerated cargo are categorised and packed appropriately before shipping. Let us learn more about the transportation of refrigerated goods.

1. Container inspection – In the case of reefer containers, it is essential to ensure that the temperature controls are working and the cooling system is operating without any issues. IoT sensors are also installed to monitor the temperature inside the container.
2. Pre-cooling – The goods are taken from a low-temperature environment and placed inside reefer containers. Pre-cooling is essential to avoid fluctuations in the cargo temperature.
3. Packaging – After ensuring the container is in good condition, cargo packaging is done. An appropriate packaging material is determined based on the type and nature of refrigerated shipment. The cargo is then packed and stored in reefer containers to prepare them for shipment. The goods should be positioned in proper spaces and should not block the airflow from the refrigeration.
4. Sealing the container – Since perishables are also sensitive to humidity, the container door is shut to seal and insulate the internal environment and prevent any external conditions from hampering the cargo.
5. Container stowage – After preparing for transit, the reefer containers are loaded onto the designated mode of transport. Shippers book their intermodal transport modes, and reefer containers are loaded onto them based on a container stowage plan.
6. Continuous monitoring – In refrigerated freight transportation, shipping carriers must constantly monitor and control the internal environment of the container. This helps prevent cargo damage due to unmonitored humidity, pressure, and temperature fluctuations.

Transport using reefer ships

The maritime industry offers cost-effective and practical solutions for shippers dealing with a large volume of perishable shipping. There are many types of ships built explicitly to transport certain goods. Reefer vessels are specialized ships manufactured for the transportation of temperature-sensitive shipments. To maintain the quality of products during shipping, reefer ships have temperature-controlled units that are compartmentalized to store different types of cargo at varying temperatures simultaneously inside a single ship. It facilitates the transport of perishables across long distances through sea routes.

This is how different types of refrigerated cargo can be transported across long distances using reefer containers and reefer vessels.

LOTUS Containers is a shipping container service provider in Hamburg, Germany, offering container solutions worldwide. We lease and sell reefer containers to assist shippers in transporting perishables to any corner of the world.