Reefer Containers: The Increasing Scourge of Interior Corrosion and SO2

The increasing use of containers for transporting refrigerated cargoes has led to more frequent corrosion issues in reefer containers. Certain fruit cargoes treated with sulfur dioxide can damage aluminum interiors over long transit times. While reefer containers have used aluminum alloy floors for decades with few issues, changes in global trade and cargo handling may be exacerbating corrosion risks. Shipping lines and owners must work with shippers to identify problematic cargoes and implement cleaning and inspection procedures to contain corrosion costs.

Uploaded by

Denis Silva

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

0% found this document useful (0 votes)

36 views

Reefer Containers: The Increasing Scourge of Interior Corrosion and SO2

Uploaded by

Denis Silva

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 20

Reefer Containers

The increasing scourge of
interior corrosion and SO2
Bremen ‐ September 28th 2016

Mark Bennett
“Trade routes where reefer cargoes are moved in containers is
widening, the range of products carried is growing larger and there is
pressure to increase efficiency of container usage.

The interior of reefer containers are being affected by cargoes, cargo
treatments and cleaning procedures.

Corrosion can be significantly more costly to repair than freight
revenue earned. Changes to cargo stowage and operating procedures
will be required if this growing problem is to be contained.”
Reefer Interior Corrosion ‐ Outline
• Over the past 3+ years, corrosion to reefer interiors seen regularly

• Some shipping lines report 10 – 15% of reefers affected
• Similar reports from leasing companies ‐ but client specific

• The corrosion is proving difficult to stop or prevent

• It is expensive to repair: $1000 to $7000

• There are 1.3 million reefer containers in the world fleet: c.$20bn
Reefer Container Characteristics
• Accurate control of temperature and air flow
• Meet hygiene standards for food transport
• Design ‐ complex and costly
• Reefers cost 7 times more than a dry van to buy and to repair
• Unpainted surfaces are more susceptible to corrosion
• Aluminium alloy T5051 has always been used in reefers
Reefer Interior Construction
Stainless steel lining
panels

Reefer Machinery

Aluminium T floor and
scuff liner
Aluminum T Floor & Sidewall
Refrigeration Machinery
Aluminium T5051 Alloy
• Used in Reefer T Floors since the 1970s
• Performed well for 40 years with only isolated corrosion cases
• T5051 combines better structural strength and corrosion
resistance than other alloys
• Aluminium surface is protected by a stable, hard, oxide layer
• Some chemicals can damage the oxide layer triggering corrosion
to the aluminium
• Corrosion has only become significant in the past 3‐4 years
Aluminium T Floor Corrosion
Corrosion to reefer machinery
Corrosion to copper tubing, most likely from
Ammonia

Corrosion to aluminium
evaporator coil and fan
motor housing, probably
from SO2
Corrosion detail

White corrosion deposits – often
sulphates

Pitting to aluminium T floor with
white corrosion products
Corrosion Laboratory Test
A new T Floor section subjected to an
ASTM ‘Sulphur Dioxide’ test over a 15
day period. Corrosion was evident after
only 5 days.
The test uses moist air containing sulfur
dioxide (SO2).
Causes of Corrosion
• Tests of corrosion products from aluminium T floors and evaporators
has found sulfates suggesting the use of SO2
• Cargoes such as Longan, Lychee, Grapes and Blueberries are
sometimes ‘treated’ with SO2 to improve colour or inhibit mould
• Tests to green corrosion deposits from copper machinery tubes has
found ammonia
• Ammonia can be emitted from decaying fish products left in the
container after destuffing
• Some NOR (non operating reefer) cargoes can release reactive gases
SO2 Treatment of Grapes
‘Pads’ containing sodium
metabisulfite release
SO2 slowly in a moist
atmosphere.

Packaging designed to
retain moisture.

Too much SO2 damages
the grapes

Long transit times
What has changed?
• T floors ‐ made from the same material for 40 years
• Grapes ‐ treated with SO2 pads for decades (isolated problems)
• Transfer of reefer cargoes from bulk to container
• Asian market consuming more tropical fruits
• Longans and Lychees – SO2 used on short transits
• Empty reefer may have residual SO2 inside with warm humid air
• Reduction in cleaning after destuffing ‐ or avoided on short sea trades
• Increasing use of empty reefers for NOR ‘dry’ cargo (non operating)
Dry Cargo Used In Reefers (NOR)
• Some dry cargo types can be carried in reefers on return legs but…
• Consideration must be taken of damage sensitivity of a reefer interior
and much higher repair costs
• Greater care required in cargo packaging, loading, and stowage than
for dry vans
• Critical to know if a cargo is corrosive or emits a vapor that may
damage copper or aluminum
• More information on NOR Cargo is available on the COA or TT Club
website
Discussion
• The problem has emerged in the past 3 to 4 years
• For reefer cargo, mainly chilled produce is linked to corrosion except
where frozen fish products are left inside after destuffing
• The presence of sulfur in corrosion products tested strongly suggests
that SO2 used to treat some reefer cargoes is causing corrosion
• Grapes are shipped with low emission SO2 treatments but this seems
unlikely to be the main cause given the history of it use and packaging
• The increase in tropical fruits carried in containers to Asian markets
and where SO2 treatment may be more ‘liberal’ is a likely factor
• Fresh fruit exports from Africa and South America have also been
linked to corrosion
Discussion continued
• Salt entering by fresh air vents may be a minor factor but fresh air venting has
been used for decades without regular corrosion issues
• Lack of cleaning of containers after destuffing may leave SO2 or cargo residue
that causes corrosion while boxes are empty
• The growth of NOR cargo volumes and inexperience with product types has been
linked to corrosion in some cases
• Corrosion repairs include washing, grinding, polishing, applying coatings and full
floor replacement or machinery evaporator coil replacement
• Coating specialists are developing products that better resist SO2 and can be
applied to new or in‐service reefer floors – but application cost may limit its
usability
• New materials may be used in future generation machines
Conclusions
• The cost of the corrosion damage now being seen on reefer containers
cannot be afforded by the industry