Having access to one of the largest and youngest fleets of reefer containers in the industry, APL can provide the equipment best suited for your perishables and sensitive cargo.
How does a refrigerated container work?
All our reefer containers are bottom-air delivery units, designed to deliver cold air from the floor via a T-shaped decking (also known as T-Floor). This allows the unit to produce a uniform and consistent flow of air across the entire container with the cargo inside, ensuring a perfect air exchange.
Reefer equipment
Our reefer fleet is made up of 20’, 40' High Cube and 45’ containers (32/33 Pallet Wide), allowing the transport of goods at temperatures ranging from below -40°C to +30°C. We have one of the youngest and most technologically advanced reefer fleet in the industry, with an average age of seven years.
20' Reefer container
20'RF Internal Dimensions
20'x8'x8'6
Length
5.456 mm
Width
2.294 mm
Height
2.273 mm
20'RF Door Opening
20'x8'x8'6
Width
2.290 mm
Height
2.264 mm
20'RF Weight
20'x8'x8'6
Max Gross Weight
30.480kg
Average Tare
3.010 kg
Maximum Payload
27.470 kg
20'RF Capacity
20'x8'x8'6
Nominal
28,6 CU.M
Usable under load line
27,3 CU.M
Height usable for cargo
2.158 mm
40' high cube Reefer container
40'RH Internal Dimensions
40'x8'x9'6
Length
11.584 mm
Width
2.294 mm
Height
2.557 mm
40'RH Door Opening
40'x8'x9'6
Width
2.290 mm
Height
2.569 mm
40'RH Weight
40'x8'x9'6
Max Gross Weight
34.000 kg
Average Tare
4.740 kg
Maximum Payload
29.260 kg
40'RH Capacity
40'x8'x9'6
Nominal
68 CU.M
Usable under load line
65,3 CU.M
Height usable for cargo
2.394 mm
45' palletwide Reefer container
45'RW Internal Dimensions
45'x255x9'6
Length
13.280 mm
Width
2.440 mm
Height
2.582 mm
45'RW Door Opening
45'x255x9'6
Width
2.440 mm
Height
2.567 mm
45'RW Weight
45'x255x9'6
Max Gross Weight
34.000 kg
Average Tare
6.180 kg
Maximum Payload
27.820 kg
45'RW Capacity
45'x255x9'6
Nominal
80,4 CU.M
Usable under load line
83,7 CU.M
Height usable for cargo
2.482 mm
Note: The above technical data provided for these containers are non-contractual data. The information is non-exhaustive and given as examples only, although it reflects the majority of our reefer fleet. Please check with your APL representative on the availability of containers with the above specifications.
Temperature
1 Frozen mode: Precise control of temperature is achieved through the return air.
2 Chilled mode: Precise control of temperature achieved through the supply air flow.
Ventilation
Unwanted gas and moisture are removed by renewing the fresh air inside our reefer container at a rate of 0 to 260m3/hour. The forced circulation of cool air prevents your chilled products from ripening too quickly, allowing your products to have a longer shelf-life and maintain their market value.
Cargo packing is extremely important as the airflow inside a reefer container is directly influenced by the stuffing and cargo placement. You may learn more about the best practices for cargo handling here.
The reefer containers require a permanent supply of electricity to ensure that the “cold chain” effect remains consistent throughout the journey. Depending on whether the containers are on board the vessel or on the quay, they are either plugged into the vessel or the terminal’s electricity supply.
When being transported on roads (rail or truck), reefer containers are equipped with portable generators called gensets.
Features & technologies
Atmosphere control
The composition of the air inside the container (specifically CO2 and O2 levels) are modified in order to slow down the ripening process of fresh produce and lengthen the storage period.
APL, through the CMA CGM Group, is able to provide various types of technologies developed by manufacturers (AFAM+, Liventus, Purfresh, Xtenfresh, Star Cool CA, Daikin).
Temperature control
To preserve the quality of perishable goods during transport, specific temperatures need to be set in the containers carrying the goods. Our reefer containers allow temperature control and offer the following:
High freezer
When it comes to shipping products like ice-cream or frozen fish which require extremely low temperatures of -40°C and below, high freezer containers are the perfect choice.
Cold Treatment
To keep cargo at a specific and accurate temperature for a predetermined and uninterrupted period, Cold Treatment is the solution for you.
A highly precise process, Cold Treatment will remove parasites like fruit flies without the use of pesticides or fumigation and meet the strict quarantine protocols set by many importing countries.
In case of Cold Treatment technical failure, APL offers Cold Treatment guarantee to our customers, protecting their businesses from by limiting their financial impact.
Multi-temperatures
Up to six different temperatures can be programmed with Multi-temperatures system. For example, tomatoes and potatoes are commodities which require temperature changes during the voyage.
Customers can define the periods setting so that different temperatures will be applied during the voyage. This will allow the desired ripening of sensitive fruits.
Humidity control
Humidity is the concentration of water vapor found inside the air. Humidity in the reefer container either comes from the evaporation from the cargo itself or from the air entering the container through the opened fresh air exchange system (ventilation).
As certain products require a reduced level of humidity during transportation, our reefer containers are equipped with a system capable of controlling the humidity within the range of 60% to 85%.
Continuous monitoring
To ensure the reefer containers are functioning according to the specifications required for the cargo, our reefer specialists continuously monitor the containers at every stage of the journey:
On entering and leaving the container yard
When being loaded onto a train or truck
When parked in the port terminal
During the voyage on board a vessel ship
Even when the reefer container is unplugged, all parameters are still monitored and recorded with an electronic microprocessor and data-loggers.
The data-logger supplies information on:
Supply air temperature,
Return air temperature,
Ambient temperature,
Cargo temperature (optional),
Humidity level
Potential actions which could impact the quality of the cargo are also monitored and recorded:
Tuning operations
Modifying the parameters
Interventions
Breakdowns
Alarms (Connecting / disconnecting the containers)
Modem
Majority of our refrigerated containers is installed with modems that directly connect them to the ship’s bridge. Should there be any changes in critical parameter, an alarm signal will immediately alert the technicians, allowing quick action to be taken to solve the issue.
Adapting containers for intermodal
Complementing our ocean freight services, we also offer door-to-door service and tailor-made inland solutions (rail, road and river) to our customers.
Reefer containers require a permanent supply of electricity to ensure that the “cold chain” remains intact throughout the journey. Portable generators called gensets are installed on reefer containers for inland transportation (road, rail or river) electricity supply.
Containers 45’ (33 Euro Pallet Wide)
45’ reefer containers adapted to multimodal transportation (33 Euro Pallet Wide) are also available.
