The reefer container market and academic research: A review study

Abstract

The refrigerated (or 'reefer') container market grows rapidly. Researchers and sector stakeholders increasingly realize that this container market segment has its distinct dynamics and demands. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the reefer container sector, its most important characteristics and trends, and a systematic review of the academic literature on reefer containers and logistics. First the authors outline the characteristics, composition, and development of the reefer container market, showing its growth through modal shift (from conventional reefer ships and airfreight) and differentiation into new cargo markets and niche services. Secondly the authors outline reefer chains in terms of their relevant stages, stakeholders, and processes. Data on insurance claims shows that cold chain failure and cargo loss not only occur due to technical failures, but just as often due to organizational errors e especially due to holdup risk at container transfer points. Thirdly the authors map the present knowledge on reefer containers and reefer transportation through a systematic literature review. The current body of research on reefer containers consists mostly of highly specialized, technical studies on product characteristics and quality preservation, monitoring and control, refrigeration technology, and temperature management. While technological advances in these fields have largely enabled the containerization of cold logistics chains, the first sections of this paper also highlight that many current pressing issues in reefer transportation are logistical and organizational in nature. Therefore, the authors propose a research agenda addressing these overlooked aspects, including supply chain coordination issues and implications of reefer market developments for port policy.

Analysis of the Effect of Inlet Velocity on Cooling Speed in a Refrigerated Container using CFD simulations

“…It is important to control temperature, airflow, and humidity to maximize the operation of refrigerated containers [3]. Many factors affect the performance of refrigerated container operation, namely controlling environmental conditions, structuring cargo pallet, and thermal insulation of containers [4][5][6], it also depends on temperature fluctuations and product respiration rates as well as airflow circulation [7].…”

Structural Factors for a Third-Generation Port: Planning Interventions for Agri-Food Logistics in Gioia Tauro, Italy

“…A containerized cold supply chain is schematically composed by the main following elements (Fig. 1) [13]:…”

“…As far as concerns the maritime shipping services between port of origin and port of destination, they may be deep-sea or short-sea. The maritime services may be operated by Figure 1: Main components of a cold supply chain [13]. means of lo-lo ships, where the container is loaded-unloaded with vertical movements, or roro ships, where the container (or the swap body) is loaded-unloaded with horizontal movements; there are also lo-lo/ro-ro ships where the container (swap body) is loadedunloaded with a mixture of both movements.…”

Estrategia del Océano Azul para el sector portuario (sincromodalidad y digitalización)

“…Como consecuencia, la transmisión de la información en el entorno portuario también sufre cambios. En las cadenas logísticas de los puertos confluyen tanto flujos físicos como de documentación, y los avances tecnológicos permiten agilizar los procesos de este flujo de información y mejorar de esta manera la oferta de servicios [8].…”