- Cargo
PHARMA Reefer division
A stringent process to maintain the integrity of pharmaceutical products during shipping, in line with the Good Distribution Practice (GDP).
- Cargo
REEFLEX liquid ready
The most economical and efficient solution for the transportation of liquids in 20' and 40' refrigerated containers.
- Cargo
CLIMACTIVE Controlled Atmosphere
Maintain the freshness of your perishables with the latest and most advanced solution that preserves the perfect atmosphere in your container.
Our reefers are specifically designed for the transport of perishable and sensitive goods in a controlled environment. They come in a variety of sizes and with all the latest technologies to regulate atmosphere, temperature or humidity level.
How does a refrigerated container work?
With its bottom air delivery units, refrigerated containers are designed to distribute cold air from the ground, via specific T-shaped decking (also named T-Floor). Such design is able to produce a consistent and uniform flow of air across the entire container and is strong enough to ensure a perfect air exchange with the cargo.
Reefer Equipment
Made up of 20’, 40' High Cube and 45’ containers (32/33 Pallet Wide), the CMA CGM Group reefer fleet allows the transport of goods at temperatures ranging from below -40°C to +30°C. Our reefer fleet is one of the youngest and most technologically advanced in the industry, with an average age of seven years.
20' Reefer container
40' high cube Reefer container
45' palletwide Reefer container
Note: The above technical data given for these containers are non-contractual data. Although the technical data do reflect most of our container fleet, it is non-exhaustive and given as examples only. Please check with your usual CNC representative on the availability of containers with the above specifications.
Temperature
- 1Frozen mode: Through the return air, temperature control is accurately achieved.
- 2Chilled mode: Through the supply air flow, temperature control is accurately achieved.
Ventilation
With our ability to renew fresh air inside our reefer container at a rate of 0 to 260m3/hour, unwanted gas and moisture are removed. Your products can maintain their market value and ensure a longer shelf-life as the forced circulation of cool air prevents your chilled products from ripening too quickly.
As the airflow inside a reefer container is directly influenced by the stuffing and cargo placement, cargo packing is extremely important.
The reefer containers require a permanent supply of electricity to guarantee that the “cold chain” effect remains intact throughout the journey. The containers are plugged into the vessel’s electricity supply while on board the vessel. While on the quay, they are plugged into the terminal’s electricity supply.
When reefer containers are being transported on roads (rail or truck), they are equipped with portable generators called gensets.
Features & technologies
Atmosphere Control
In order to slow down the ripening process of fresh produce and lengthen the storage period, the composition of the air inside the container (specifically CO2 and O2 levels) are modified.
CNC is able to provide various types of technologies developed by manufacturers (AFAM+, Liventus, Purfresh, Xtenfresh, Star Cool CA, Daikin).
Temperature Control
A very specific temperature is required by most perishable goods to preserve their quality during transport. CNC reefer containers allow temperature control and offer the following:
High freezer
Requiring extremely low temperatures of down to -40°C and below, high freezer containers are the perfect choice for shipping products like ice-cream or frozen fish. Click here for more information on shipping of commodities requiring ultra-low temperature of down to -60°C and here for temperature of -35°C .
Cold Treatment
Cold Treatment is a highly precise process in keeping cargo at a specific and accurate temperature for a predetermined and uninterrupted period.
With Cold Treatment, parasites like fruit flies are removed without the use of pesticides or fumigation and meet the strict quarantine protocols set by importing countries.
In case of Cold Treatment technical failure, CNC offers Cold Treatment guarantee to our customers, so their businesses will not be financially impacted.
Multi-temperatures
Multi-temperatures system allows for up to six different temperatures to be programmed. Tomatoes and potatoes are examples of commodities which require temperature changes during the same voyage.
In order to obtain the desired ripening for sensitive fruits, periods' settings are defined by the customer.
Humidity Control
Humidity control means dehumidification. Humidity is the concentration of water vapor found inside the air. Humidity comes from the evaporation from the cargo itself or from the air entering the reefer container through the opened fresh air exchange system (ventilation).
Our reefer containers are equipped with a system capable of controlling the humidity within the range of 60% to 85% as certain products require a reduced level of humidity during transportation.
Continuous Monitoring
Our reefer specialists continuously monitor the containers at every stage of the journey to ensure they are functioning correctly:
- On entering and leaving the container yard
- When being loaded on to a train or truck
- When parked in the port terminal
- During the voyage on board ship
Even when the reefer container is unplugged, we are able to monitor the reefer containers using an electronic microprocessor and data-loggers, which record all parameters.
The data-logger provides information on:
- Supply air temperature,
- Return air temperature,
- Ambient temperature,
- Cargo temperature (optional),
- Humidity level.
Other actions are also monitored and recorded if it could impact the quality of the cargo:
- Tuning operations
- Modifying the parameters
- Interventions
- Breakdowns
- Alarms (Connecting / disconnecting the containers)
Modem
A large part of our refrigerated containers is installed with modems that directly connect them to the ship’s bridge. An alarm signal will immediately alert the technicians if there are any changes in critical parameter, allowing action to be taken quickly to solve the issue.
Adapting Containers for Intermodal
Along with our ocean freight services, we also offer door-to-door service and tailor-made inland solutions (rail, road and river) to our customers.
Visit CNC inland solutions to find out more.
Gensets
Reefer containers need a permanent supply of electricity to guarantee that the “cold chain” remains intact throughout the journey. For inland transportation (road, rail or river), portable generators called gensets are installed on reefer containers for electricity supply.
Containers 45’ (33 Euro Pallet Wide)
45’ reefer containers adapted to multimodal transportation (33 Euro Pallet Wide) are also available as part of our reefer fleet.
Reefer Procedure
To ensure the successful delivery of your reefer cargo, we have prepared a list of procedures to guide you, from the moment you make a reefer booking right through to delivery at destination.
Booking
The following information are to be provided when placing a booking:
- Nature of the merchandise, quantity, weight
- Place of origin and final destination
- Type of packaging being used (crate, drum, pallet, etc.)
- Temperature required during transportation (specify °C or °F and + or -)Specific requirements (multi-temperatures, cold treatment, controlled atmosphere, etc.)
The packaging must be:
- Be designed, manufactured and stowed in order to ensure optimal protection of the cargo
- Be able to withstand repeated handling without damage in varied and diverse environments
- Be able to withstand the vertical pressures resulted from piling up crates/cartons
- Allow good air circulation throughout the container for optimum temperature control
Pre-Trip Inspection (PTI)
A detailed inspection of the container, PTI is meticulously carried out by our reefer technicians to ensure that the container is clean is that the system is in perfect working condition.
Specific PTI is carried out for pharmaceutical bookings.
Pre-Cooling Cargo
Cargo must be already at the required temperature before stuffing. In most cases, before being stuffed into reefer container, goods must be pre-cooled to the required optimal temperature for transport.
Pre-cooling is not recommended to avoid problems associated with condensation, except when stuffing is done in cold store room.
Loading and Stowage
The shipper handles the loading and stowage of the goods inside the container.
Important notes:
- The entire surface of the container floor must be covered by the cargo as all reefer containers are bottom air delivery. If this is not possible, other materials such as cardboard should be used to cover the remaining container floor.
- Cargo can be palletized or in bulk. In both situations, solid block stowage is recommended. There should be no space between the cartons and the container walls. This way, the entire floor space will be covered and refrigerated, and air is forced up through the cargo.
- To avoid damaging the baffle plate at the bottom of the container, loading of pallets should be carefully done.
Storage Conditions Guide
We have prepared a comprehensive but non-exhaustive guide on the parameters and recommended settings for optimal storage conditions for different types of reefer commodities: temperature, volume of replacement air, etc.
Click here for the produce storage guide.
