Cold chain shipping is an integral part of the global shipping industry. In this post, we will outline the key risks in cold chain shipping and how to manage them, so as to guarantee maximum efficiency while maintaining the integrity of your goods.
What is Cold Chain Shipping?
Cold chain shipping is the specialist transport of goods that must be kept at a certain temperature to retain their integrity. This can include food, horticultural products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. These goods are stored in a temperature controlled environment, and they are packed in specialist containers that will keep them at the desired temperature during transit, usually with the use of dry ice, gel packs, or liquid nitrogen.
Real time monitoring and specialist handling techniques are required throughout the goods’ journey to their final destination. The goods are stored in cold warehouses at every stop of the journey, and they are transported in temperature controlled vehicles, such as refrigerated trucks.
The specific temperature requirements will depend on the goods being shipped. Some goods will simply require refrigeration at temperatures between 2°C and 8°C. Other goods must remain frozen at temperatures of around -18°C throughout their journey. Some goods require transporting at ultra-low temperatures, around -80°C.
Key Risks of Cold Chain Shipping
Any issues with the cold chain shipping process can result in spoilage, which will invariably lead to significant losses, and damaged customer trust. But in cold chain shipping processes involving chemicals and pharmaceuticals, any issues could lead to additional health risks, and even death.
Below we will outline some of the key risks of cold chain shipping, before exploring how you might address these risks, including:
- Poor temperature management
- Inadequate packaging
- Poor training
- Lack of contingency planning
Poor Temperature Management
Unless you act to ensure that all goods are kept at the required temperature throughout the entire shipping process, there will be a strong risk of spoilage, deterioration, and even the potential for pathogen growth.
This is a particular issue when goods are shipped overseas in refrigerated containers (reefers). If reefers lose power during a voyage, either as a result of mechanical breakdown or human error, then the temperature control can fail, which could cause entire shipments to be lost.
Issues with reefers during overseas cold chain shipping processes can lead to additional issues, as it is often difficult to determine just who is liable for the container losing power. This can lead to costly disputes between shippers and carriers.
Inadequate Packaging
The packaging used in a cold chain shipping process should do more than keep the goods cool. It should also protect them from humidity, light, and impact.
Poor Training
Employees may assume that all products involved in a cold shipping process have the same temperature storage requirements, which may not necessarily be the case. Some products may carry additional storage or handling requirements beyond the temperature requirements. If your employees are not familiar with these procedures, it could lead to losses, and even certain health risks.
Poor training could also lead to inconsistent labelling and recording, which could lead to compliance issues, along with considerable delays to the end-to-end shipping process.
Lack of Contingency Planning
Many things could go wrong during the cold shipping process. Power outages, equipment failures, traffic delays, and other factors could compromise the integrity of your goods. If you are not prepared for such unforeseen circumstances, then the slightest setback could lead to severe problems down the line.
How To Mitigate the Risks of Cold Chain Shipping
There are a number of ways you can start mitigating the risks of cold chain shipping to reduce spoilage and potential risks, including:
- Risk assessments and contingency planning
- Staff training
- Packaging
- Technology
We’ll address each of these in more detail below, covering how you can follow these processes and reduce risk.
Risk Assessments and Contingency Planning For Cold Shipping Issues
Take the time to consider anything that could go wrong at every stage of the cold shipping process, and outline how you would address each issue. Create a document that describes the actions that should be taken in the event of each specific setback, along with who is responsible for taking these actions.
Staff Training for Monitoring and Handling Shipments
Any employee involved in a cold chain shipping process should be trained to treat each specific shipment as its own unique case, with specific temperature, storage, and handling requirements. To ensure compliance and operational efficiency, employees should also be trained in the correct labelling and documentation procedures.
Packaging Best Practice
Never cut corners when it comes to your packaging solutions. Always choose the most durable solutions that are validated for the specific temperature ranges required for the process.
Invest in Tech for Real-Time Temperature Monitoring
Do not rely on outdated tools to monitor your temperatures and record your shipments. Instead, invest in advanced tools to allow for continuous real-time temperature monitoring, so that you can respond to any issues as soon as they become apparent.
Get Specialist Marine Insurance for Cold Chain Shipping
Everard Insurance Brokers provides specialist cargo insurance solutions, which can include dedicated cover for cold chain shipping operations. We can help ensure your cargo is properly protected from origin to destination.
Your specialist marine insurance could include parametric cargo insurance cover. If a temperature fluctuation takes place during the shipping process, GPS sensors in the container can automatically notify your insurer. As well as helping to avoid liability disputes between the shipper and the carrier, you may also be able to get a settlement even before the container is opened and the damage is discovered.
Find out more about our specialist marine insurance services.