Monitoring Reefer Cargo at sea, reefer container malfunction & related procedure
Refrigerated cargoes are shipped in very substantial quantities in both conventional reefer ships and
ISO containers. The introduction of containers has proved to be of outstanding value in ensuring a good
outturn of cargo under refrigerated conditions. Their use protects the cold chain from producer to consumer,
significantly reduces physical handling requirements with the attendant possibility of damage and
contamination, and reduces the opportunities for pilferage.
Reefer containers require special care after they are loaded on board ship. These containers need to be supplied with power, monitored closely for proper function and repaired as required in case of malfunction.The article here is about procedures and guidelines on refere cargo care at sea.
The majority of refrigerated containers in use are those with an integral refrigeration unit that plugs into
the ship's electrical power supply. When in a terminal, the container is plugged into the shore power supply.
Refrigerated containers are used for the carriage of foodstuffs ranging from chilled fruit and chocolate
to deep-frozen meat and fish. Additionally, they are used to carry certain pharmaceuticals and hazardous
cargoes that require temperature control.
Refrigerated port-hole
Port-hole containers are very rarely seen today, having been used in certain trades (particularly those from
New Zealand and Australia) when they were first containerised. They were carried below deck connected
via air ducts to the ship's central refrigeration plant. They also required either "clip-on" units or port-hole towers
in the terminal to maintain refrigeration before loading and after discharge.
Reefer Container
Refrigerated controlled/modified atmosphere
In recent years, refrigerated cargo has improved outturn, particularly fruit, when carried under
controlled of modified atmosphere conditions. Developed in refrigerated cargo ships, the technology is now
available in specialised refrigerated containers.
It is important to note that refrigerated containers are designed to maintain a temperature and that cargo
should be pre-cooled to the appropriate temperature before stuffing. The machinery is not designed to
"pull down" cargo from ambient temperature. Refrigerated containers may also be used for carrying clean
general cargo, particularly when re-positioning empty units. However, great care must be taken in selecting
the cargo for stuffing into a unit so that there is no possibility of damage or taint which could render it unfit
for the carriage of foodstuffs.
Container ship carrying reefers
At sea, all reefer containers shall be monitored by checking physically at least twice daily (weather permitting). All monitored data for each reefer container on board shall be entered in a reefer monitoring log and retained for 3 years. Some reefer containers with special cargo (e.g.: VIP cargo) come with instructions for more frequent monitoring and reporting. Such instructions shall be strictly followed.
During the daily reefer container checks, its condition shall be checked for the following:-
a) Power supply
b) Cooling water supply maintained in case of water-cooled machinery
c) Present actual temperature on Partlow chart and digital indicator
d) Partlow chart verify if any disruption to power supply or fault in unit if abnormal trend is observed
e) Any alarms displayed on the digital indicator
f) Control box door firmly tightened to prevent any water damage
g) Any abnormal noise or vibration from the refrigerating equipment
If a reefer container malfunctions, the facts must be reported without delay to concerned parties as required by the voyage instructions.
Repair work on the malfunctioning reefer container must be undertaken with best efforts after consulting manuals/drawings and instructions from the concerned lines technical department. It is an obligation upon the carrier (and ships crew) to exercise due diligence in preventing any cargo damage.
Subsequent technical reports shall be sent to concerned parties in line with voyage instructions, until the reefer container is repaired or discharged at the next port.
The reefer remote monitoring system where fitted and operational shall be used whenever possible. Alarms generated on this system shall be attended to promptly and condition of the concerned reefer container confirmed.
Spare parts and manuals for reefer containers shall be maintained on board as required. Usually, these are maintained booking line-wise or otherwise as per voyage instructions from the vessel operator. Periodical inventory of reefer container spares shall be taken, maintained, and necessary spare parts ordered to maintain stock levels.
Master shall submit an inventory list of reefer spare parts to each booking line at Intervals specified by them.
Normally spare parts belonging to one booking line shall not be used to repair a reefer container of another booking line. However in case of emergency, this may be permitted subject to the condition that a reefer unit of the other booking line is not suffering due to this consideration.
Reefer Container Shipment
Procedures and guidelines for stowage of reefer containers shall be adhered to. A reefer container list or manifest must accompany every reefer container proposed for shipment. Additionally read our article on:
Reefer cargo Handling In Port Reefer containers shall be plugged in and supplied with ships power as soon as practicable after loading. In case it is to be done by shore hands, ships crew shall still closely monitor the operation and confirm that all reefer containers are supplied with power earliest after loading....
Reefer cargo care at sea At sea, all reefer containers shall be monitored by checking physically at least twice daily (weather permitting). All monitored data for each reefer container on board shall be entered in a reefer monitoring log and retained for three years. Some reefer containers with special cargo (e.g., VIP cargo) come with instructions for more frequent monitoring and reporting. Such instructions shall be strictly followed.
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Commodities Shipped In Reefer Containers Some cargoes may require controlled humidity (e.g. flower bulbs). In such cases, many refrigeration units are only capable of reducing humidity within the cargo space, and the settings should be applied accordingly.
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Reefer Cargo Temperature Recording A Partlow recorder registers temperature on a pressure-sensitive circular chart over 31 day period. If the voyage transit is expected to exceed 31 days, care must be taken to ensure charts are replaced before expiry. The first chart should be placed underneath the new chart to build up a complete temperature record for the entire voyage up until arrival at the final destination.
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Reefer Cargo Maintaining Records Monitoring the digital & chart temperatures of all reefer containers at least twice a day. Daily reefer container temperature checklists should be maintained, and printouts from monitoring unit should be preserved.....
Reefer Cargo Care During Sea Transit Reefer containers usually have their own refrigeration unit, with an air or water-cooled heat exchanger. They have a data logger to record the temperature. The logger may be in the form of a Partlow chart or a digital logger. They usually contain high-value cargo, and any damage to cargo would likely result in substantial claims......
Reefer Cargo Defrosting During the operation of a refrigeration unit, a layer of ice will form on the evaporator coils depending on the temperature set, the temperature of the cargo, the amount of fresh air ventilation and the cargo humidity.
The unit periodically enters a phase where heat is produced by a series of electrical bars, allowing defrosting to occur. At such times, all fans are turned off automatically to prevent heat from entering the cargo compartment. ....
Basic check item prior stowing Reefer Cargo Stowage location of reefers must be checked against vessels reefer receptacle locations. In case reefer containers must be loaded in random locations, it must be confirmed that monitoring and repair will be possible during the voyage, and that vessel has sufficient extension cables for providing power. ....
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