Transportation of poultry and offal in refrigerated containers


The main criteria, controlled in the cold logistics of poultry and offal are: temperature, humidity level and ventilation. To ensure that all three criteria are met and to prevent damage to the goods along the way, use a refrigerated container.

A refrigerated container is a specialized container, which is equipped with a refrigeration unit. Its function is to maintain the temperature of the cargo at all stages of transportation, with which it was loaded into the refcontainer, by adjusting the microclimate inside the refcontainer.

Modes of transportation of poultry and offal

Poultry and offal are transported in a refrigerated container in a chilled or frozen form.

Transportation in refrigerated mode.

Transportation of poultry and offal in a chilled form is used, if delivery is required within the same region (on the way from 12 to 72 hours). Most often, this is city delivery to retail stores or delivery to the regions of the country.

Poultry meat is pre-cooled to a temperature of -1 to +4 °C, and offal from -1 to 0°C. Such temperature restrictions are sufficient, to prevent the growth of bacteria and germs. Then the cargo is placed in plastic boxes and placed in a pre-prepared and cooled reefer container.

for 8 hours before loading, refrigerated containers should be cooled to a temperature of 2 – 3°C below the transportation temperature. During transportation, the temperature inside the container must be identical to the incoming temperature of the cargo.

Product type

Temperature inside
container, °C

Humidity, %

Poultry meat
chilled

-1 to +4 82-85

Offal
chilled

-1 to 0 85-90

It is not allowed to transport chilled meat together with other products.

Transportation in frozen mode.

Transportation of frozen poultry and offal is used under conditions of international transportation or long-term transportation within the country.

Before shipment, the cargo is frozen in the form of briquettes, packed in polyethylene film and placed in cardboard boxes. Then the cargo is placed in a pre-cooled refrigerated container.

Product type

The temperature inside the container, °C

Humidity, %

Chickens, broiler chickens and turkeys are frozen

-18 85-90

Frozen chickens and turkeys

-18 85-90

Geese, ducks are frozen

-18 85-90

Goslings, ducklings are frozen

-18 85-90

Offal is frozen

-18 95-98

The following temperature regime is established for different cargoes in the refrigerator:

When transported by sea, the time interval of being in the frozen state of these products in the refrigerated container on the ship should not exceed 35-40 days.

Where to get a reefer container for shipping cargo by sea?

There are several options:

  • In the shipping line.

The most common and convenient option. Containers are regularly checked for suitability, therefore excludes the use of faulty equipment. Under the conditions of renting and selling a refrigerated container, the leasing company conducts a pre-flight test with its own resources and funds.

  • Rent or purchase a reefer container from specialized companies.

A very convenient option in case of complex multimodal transportation, when, after the port, the container is loaded onto a ZD platform or car for further shipment. Under such conditions, the shipper is not burdened with time frames for returning the container to the port and fines for violating this deadline. It is also an advantage that, that at the delivery point the refcontainer can be reloaded and sent by another route.

When renting or buying a refrigerator, it is necessary to carefully inspect it for the condition of the refrigerating unit and the absence of damage to the housing. This is very important for the safe transportation of perishable goods.

How to preserve the quality of cargo during transportation?

Transportation of frozen poultry, as well as transportation of frozen offal, requires special attention of logisticians along the entire chain. In the transportation contract, it is necessary to specify the temperature regimes, requirements for placing cargo in a container, packaging, delivery times and liability of the parties for violation of these rules.

Before starting loading, the consignor or his agent must conduct an inspection of the refrigerated containers in order to make sure that:

  • serviceability of units, sufficient amount of refrigerant, fuel, etc.;
  • serviceability of electrical wiring, sensors;
  • serviceability of doors, of castles;
  • presence and serviceability of seals;

Provided that faults are detected, that threaten the preservation of the cargo, the refrigerator should be replaced or eliminated.

Ref containers must be dry before loading, clean and without extraneous odors. for 8 hours to download, Refcontainer should be cooled to 2-3 ° C below the transportation temperature. After loading, the genset is connected to the container, which powers the refrigeration plant en route to the port of departure. On board the ship, the reefer container is connected to the power grid and the cargo sails to the port of destination, while retaining its useful properties.

For today, refrigerated container – the only way to safely transport perishable goods. They have proven themselves as a reliable and easy-to-use container, which is easily transported by sea, by land and railway.