When you are shipping perishables and any other type of ocean cargo that requires temperature control, special ventilation, or protection from extreme temperatures, hot or cold, or humidity, you should opt for a refrigerated container, also called a reefer container. Refrigerated shipping containers are excellent for shipping a wide range of items that require special maintenance at a set temperature.

The word reefer, a shortened version of the word refrigerator, has long time nautical ties. It also is a term used to describe the portion of a ship’s sail that is sometimes folded and secured in order to minimize wind exposure, and in the nineteenth century, the midshipman on an ocean vessel was sometimes referred to as the reefer.

Reefer ships are cargo ships that are specially designed in order to transport temperature sensitive cargo. Reefer ships are unusual in that they have more insulation than regular ocean cargo ships. Reefer ships are typically capable of traveling at very fast speeds that can range upwards of 22 knots or more. The typical temperature range in reefer containers includes a low of around -30 degrees Celsius.

A refrigerated cargo container is a special type of cargo container that is completely enclosed so that all of the temperature-sensitive cargo is securely packed and maintained at the specified temperature. These types of cargo containers are transported on the main deck or in the cargo hold area. The temperature within refrigerated containers is typically controlled automatically, but there are also some reefers that have manual controls. Items that are shipped in reefer containers typically suffer damage with shifts in temperature. Humidity can also be a hindrance.

Before cargo is packed into a refrigerated container, the container is typically chilled. It is also important that refrigerated containers are packed in a way that enables stable cooling and good air circulation. If items are packed too tightly in a refrigerated container, it can negatively impede proper air circulation, and in turn, damage the goods.

There are a wide range of items that require refrigerated transportation and are shipped in temperature controlled cargo containers. Perhaps most obvious, many perishable food items including fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and meats and seafood, must be shipped in refrigerated containers for international transport. Some other types of cargo also require temperature controlled shipping. For example, certain types of medical supplies including pharmaceuticals, blood and tissue samples, and other chemicals and materials, require temperature controlled shipping containers.

If you are interested in finding out more about shipping refrigerated cargo overseas, it is important to contact a reliable and dependable international cargo shipper. The best international cargo shippers will provide you with expert advice and free freight quote service to assist in this process. Choosing the right professional international cargo shipping company can help to make your experience shipping refrigerated cargo overseas easy.

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