Reefer logistics and cool chain transport

Reefer logistics is an important part of the cool chain in which reefer containers are involved as the packaging for transporting perishable goods. Reefer logistics is challenging, as it deals with cost and time constraints as well as the product quality and sustainability requirements. In many situations, there is a trade-off between these factors (e.g., between transportation time and the quality of fresh products). Furthermore, considering the high value of reefers, the efficient logistics of is as important as the efficient cargo flows. This causes technical complications and the conflict of interests between actors, especially, between cargo owners (or shippers) and the asset owners (or transport/terminal operators). Improving the efficiency of reefer logistics calls for a thorough understanding of the trade-offs and complexities. This paper aims to help develop such an understanding using a systematic literature review and a socio-technical system analysis. The results can be used to provide managerial insights for actors involved in a cool chain to design tailored solutions for reefer

Dynamic energy modelling for ship life-cycle performance assessment

This article summarises related work undertaken by the EC-funded Research Project TARGETS, which focuses on assessing energy efficiency by a direct approach. Energy flows onboard ships are considered in the time domain for complete ship energy systems simulation, allowing for interactions at system and component levels and accounting for different configurations, operating profiles, itineraries and environmental conditions. The approach and tools form the basis for life-cycle energy management considerations, addressing design, operation and retrofitting. To demonstrate the methodology leading to the evaluation of performance-based energy efficiency and its anticipated impact on ship design and operation, a case study for containership was carried out. Results are presented and discussed, demonstrating considerable advantage in adopting a more systematic and scientific approach to address Energy Efficiency of ships

Testing packaging design changes in kiwifruit packaging for reefer container conditions : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Food Technology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Refrigerated transport is widely used for export in the New Zealand horticultural industry, valued to be over NZD $9.5B in 2019, to maintain the quality of perishable produce from farm to consumer. New Zealand’s horticultural industry mostly uses refrigerated containers (reefers) to deliver the goods. In which, generally, the precooled produce in stacked boxes will be stored as pallet units, where the refrigeration unit and a fan circulate air into the container. Normally the air inside the reefer is to achieve a homogenous controlled environment around the produce as well as in the container through flow in vertical directions (from bottom to top) towards every corner of container in order to preserve the fruit quality and prolong its shelf life. Packaging design plays a crucial part in the cooling performance, especially in ventilation (i.e vent size and vent location over the design) with respect to the direction of air flow within the cooling unit. Even though vertical ventilation has its impact on the cooling performance of a design, the modular bulk packaging of polylined kiwifruit has not been equipped with vertical ventilation despite the kiwifruit industry being the largest horticultural sector in New Zealand (worth NZD$ 2.3B in 2019). To understand the effects of vertical ventilation on a kiwifruit MB box design in a reefer condition, an apparatus was designed and constructed of a single column of MB boxes with similar airflow considerations as a standard reefer. For experimentation purposes artificial kiwifruit simulators were used in place of real kiwifruits. Fruit temperature was used as a variable to understand the cooling efficiency of the box design by using 20℃ or 25℃ as initial temperature and pumping 0℃ reefer condition airflow into the apparatus. In addition to vertical ventilation, the experimental setup also considered polyliner bags and different air flow modes as a design variable and reefer variable respectively. For single column MB boxes at reefer conditions it was found that 3% vertical ventilation has no significant effect on the cooling profile of the boxes in both economical (40 air renewal/hr) and normal (75 renewal/ hr) air flows. Additionally, removal of polyliner form the design reduced the half-cooling time of the boxes in economical flow ranging from 36-56 %. Where the smallest and largest change was observed in the middle box and the base box. With the addition of vertical ventilation to the polyliner scenario, an added effect of reduction in the half- cooling values ranging 46-52% was observed

The reefer container market and academic research: A review study

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 – especially due to hold-up 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

Numerical and Experimental Evaluation of In-Transit Fruit Temperature Control Alternatives Inside Integral Containers.

Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineerin

Using Blockchain to Sustainably Manage Containers in International Shipping

This paper investigates how blockchain technology can improve information flows on empty container repositioning at an inter-organizational level in the shipping industry. By adopting a theory-generating design science research approach, we develop and evaluate an industry-wide blockchain artefact, named Greenbox Platform, where container owners can register, trade and share containers. It brings efficiency for shipping companies via cost reduction through minimizing the need for empty container repositioning, and effectiveness for leasing companies via container proof of ownership. The paper contributes to its application domain by a practical, theory-driven and novel application of blockchain technology to the shipping industry. Theorizing on its development and evaluation, the paper provides preliminary groundwork for two nascent design principles: 1) Explicitly define a structure of incentives for interorganizational and cross-industrial blockchain applications where stakeholders’ interests are not necessarily aligned; and 2) Consider environmental sustainability as a non-functional requirement in the development of a blockchain artefact

Essays on Port, Container, and Bulk Chemical Logistics Optimization

The essays in this thesis are concerned with two main themes in port logistics. The first theme is the coordination of transport arrivals with the distribution processes and the use of storage facilities. We study this for both containerized and bulk chemical transport. The second theme is the uncertainty associated with the arrival time of ships with bulk chemicals and the impact on port logistics. Each essay describes a case study where quantitative methods, especially simulation, are used. The operation of container terminals and in particular the way in which containers are stacked in a yard is influenced by information about the departure of a container. We find that even inaccurate information is valuable and helps to reduce unproductive moves. Next, we present the ``floating stocks'' distribution concept which uses intermodal transport to deploy inventories in a supply chain in advance of retailer demand. We demonstrate that a main drawback of intermodal transport, a longer transit time, can be mitigated using this concept. This concept also influences the choice of a port: we provide a quantitative interpretation of routing flexibility in port selection

Dynamics in Logistics

This open access book highlights the interdisciplinary aspects of logistics research. Featuring empirical, methodological, and practice-oriented articles, it addresses the modelling, planning, optimization and control of processes. Chiefly focusing on supply chains, logistics networks, production systems, and systems and facilities for material flows, the respective contributions combine research on classical supply chain management, digitalized business processes, production engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and mathematical optimization. To celebrate 25 years of interdisciplinary and collaborative research conducted at the Bremen Research Cluster for Dynamics in Logistics (LogDynamics), in this book hand-picked experts currently or formerly affiliated with the Cluster provide retrospectives, present cutting-edge research, and outline future research directions