Preservation of freshness:

Reefer containers maintain a controlled temperature and humidity environment, which is vital when shipping seafood products like fish and shellfish which are highly perishable. Using a reefer shipping container helps preserve the freshness and quality of the seafood during transit, reducing the risk of damage to your cargo and increasing customer satisfaction.

Compliance with regulations:

By reducing the risk of spoilage and contamination, reefer containers also help ensure that all seafood shipments remain compliant with the temperature and hygiene requirements and regulations set out by the FDA and other governing bodies.

Monitoring:

The monitoring systems in advanced reefer containers provide real-time data on temperature, humidity, and other conditions. Not only does this allow seafood shippers to track their shipments, but also provides additional flexibility by allowing businesses to respond to any deviations or problems quickly.

Extended shelf life and reduced product loss:

Utilising reefer containers as part of your cold chain logistics process when shipping seafood also helps extend the shelf life of your cargo and avoid spoilage. Maintaining the correct temperature throughout shipping, helps reduce food waste but also enables businesses to expand their target export markets and grow their profit margins.

International trade:

From a wider market perspective, being able to safely ship seafood without risk of spoilage is vital for the growth of the industry in the USA. This expanded market reach not only encourages diversification but also helps ensure long term economic viability and investment.

Precise temperature control:

As different types of seafood require specific temperature ranges to maintain their quality, cold chain logistics ensures that fish, shellfish, and other seafood products are stored at the precise temperature needed to preserve freshness. This also helps extend your cargo’s shelf life, reducing food waste and improving customer satisfaction.

Food safety and compliance:

As well as preserving freshness and ensuring customer satisfaction, cold chain logistics also helps prevent bacteria growth which could result in foodborne illnesses. This is particularly critical for seafood, as it is prone to spoilage and contamination if not stored at the right temperature.
Furthermore, maintaining the strict temperature and hygiene standards required by the seafood industry also helps reduce the risk of product rejection or recalls. Not only is this costly but having products recalled could also cause damage to your business’s reputation.

Quality assurance:

As the quality of seafood is not determined by taste alone, investing in your cold supply chain that helps maintain the sensory qualities of your cargo, including texture, flavour, and appearance, helps ensure that your products look as good as they taste.

When shipping fresh and frozen seafood from the USA there are several challenges that businesses must address. These include:

One problem is maintaining and monitoring the correct temperature of your cargo to avoid spoilage. Challenges can arise when monitoring equipment malfunctions or if there are delays in identifying and addressing temperature deviations.

Equally, any delays during the transportation of your seafood shipment can also result in an increased risk of temperature fluctuations or cargo spoilage.

This in turn can mean that your cargo becomes non-compliant with industry regulations, causing it to be rejected or recalled. Similarly, all cargo must be packaged and labelled appropriately, as discrepancies can result in delays or refusals. In turn, this can threaten the freshness of your seafood cargo and result in spoilage.

Another challenge faced by seafood shippers is the overall expense of maintaining a cold chain. As refrigeration requires a large amount of energy, businesses need to balance cost-effective shipping with the additional expense of ensuring that the temperature is maintained throughout transit.