Reefer Containers: Types, Uses, and Practical Benefits in Shipping

The reefer container is a refrigerated unit that is used to transport goods at a consistent temperature. Examples of such goods include seafood, meat, fruits, flowers, milk, and medicines. These containers form the backbone of the global cold storage chain as they use insulation and refrigeration to enable uninterrupted temperature control on vessels, trucks, and trains. All of these allow the goods to be in the best condition possible throughout the entire transport ‍‌‍‍‌journey.

Understanding Reefer Containers

A reefer container is built with insulated walls, a refrigeration system, and a power connection. Some containers can maintain temperatures between -30°C and +30°C, while special ones can reach as low as -60°C. Also, cool air flows through T-shaped floor ducts to ensure even circulation across the cargo.

Types of Reefer Containers

Reefer containers are designed in multiple sizes and models to manage goods. They differ in physical dimensions and the cooling technology. Here, they are as follows:

Based on Size

●     20-Foot‍‌‍‍‌ Reefer Container (20RF): Is a small or costly type of sea shipment, such as seafood or medication, with a capacity of approximately 28 cubic meters. Also, the temperature of such containers can be restored quickly once the door has been opened due to their compact size.

●     40-Foot Reefer Container (40RF): Provides close to 58 cubic meters of volume and is the typical standard type. 40RF works best for fresh fruits, vegetables, and frozen products as it enables easy airflow between the pallets that are ‍‌‍‍‌stacked.

●     40-Foot‍‌‍‍‌ High Cube Reefer (40HRF): A unit of this type can hold a little less than 67 m3 of goods inside and is one foot higher than the normal-sized containers. Goods such as pineapples, melons, and packaged dairy would be the perfect for such ‍‌‍‍‌containers.

Based on Function

●     Integral or Self-Contained Reefer: This is the most common type used in modern logistics. It has a built-in refrigeration unit that operates with external power from ships, terminals, or trucks.

●     Porthole Reefer: This design limits the accessibility to the independent cooling system. It connects to a ship’s centralised refrigeration plant through two portholes.

●     Controlled Atmosphere (CA) and Super-Freezer Reefers: CA‍‌‍‍‌ reefers are the main components to ensure food safety in the cargo containers by regulating temperature and humidity, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

Uses of Reefer Containers

Reefer containers are instrumental in the worldwide food supply system to transport the temperature-sensitive products over long distances. Also, their adaptability allows them to work in any worldwide industry.

1. Food and Beverage Industry

This industry uses the most reefer containers. For example, frozen foods such as fish, poultry, and meat are shipped at -4°C to -8°C to maintain their freshness. Milk products like cheese and butter are kept at 4°C to 6°C. Fresh fruits like bananas and mangoes are kept at 12°C to 14°C in order to prevent them from ripening too quickly.

2. Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Sector

Medicines, vaccinations and biologics are highly perishable. Most of the medicines need storage at 2°C to 8°C to ensure they remain stable in terms of chemical stability. Moreover, continuously monitored reefer containers protect these products against staling, along with helping to meet international standards of quality during shipment.

3. Floriculture and Horticulture

Fresh flowers, plants, and bulbs are transported with the help of reefers. For example, roses and orchids can be kept fresh at 2°C to 6°C, and their moisture level is between 85 and 90%. Other plants, such as lilies and tulips, can also be placed on such containers to preserve their freshness and floral characteristics.

4. Chemical and Industrial Cargo

A few chemicals, adhesives, and coatings may become non-functional if they get heated. The container with temperature control keeps the necessary storage conditions for such goods. ‍‌‍‍‌

Benefits of Reefer Containers

Reefer‍‌‍‍‌ containers are equipped with several features that make them indispensable in global trade and cold chain logistics.

●     Accurate Temperature and Humidity Control: The control systems keep the temperature within ±0.5°C and the humidity between 60 and 95% as required.

●     Extended Shelf Life and Market Reach: With condition stabilisation during the journey, exporters are enabled to send the perishable products to far markets without the loss of quality. Such accuracy is instrumental in product longevity and in reducing waste.

●     Intermodal Flexibility: Reefer containers can be transported via sea, road, and rail. Also, the cargo can be transferred directly from one vehicle to another seamlessly.

●     Energy Efficiency and Environmental Compliance: Many refrigerants use environmentally friendly refrigerants such as R-134A and R-404A. The energy consumption is lowered by variable-speed compressors and intelligent power systems. ‍‌‍‍‌

Final Thoughts

Reefer containers are transforming international logistics by maintaining temperature precision and production quality from the origin location to the destination. Some of them are also equipped with -30°C to +30°C temperature control to carry goods like medicines, fruits, vegetables, etc. Their insulated structure, refrigeration system and digital monitoring safeguard goods through long-term journeys.