Reefer Container

A reefer container refers to a special container equipped with a refrigeration unit and capable of adjusting the internal temperature, used for transporting perishable, temperature-sensitive, or constant-temperature cargo, such as fresh produce, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, flowers, and chemicals. Its main application scenarios are ocean shipping, multimodal transport, and cold chain logistics. Precautions include: the required temperature range for the cargo (e.g., -18°C to +25°C), ventilation settings (air exchange rate), and humidity requirements must be confirmed in advance; after being plugged in, a reefer container requires a continuous power supply, and terminals and vessels must have the corresponding sockets; the cargo should be pre-cooled before loading, and stowage should leave ventilation channels; not all reefer containers can control temperature precisely, so a distinction must be made between "reefer containers," "insulated containers," and "constant-temperature containers." The difference from ordinary dry containers is that reefer containers have active refrigeration capability, and the difference from "reefer ships" is that reefer containers involve containerized transport and are more flexible. In foreign trade, terms such as "reefer plug," "temperature set point," and "CA/DA" are often involved.