My presentation in Cool Chain Forum at EU Intermodal Conference

1. Reefer logistics: an overview
of trends and challenges
DR. BEHZAD BEHDANI
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN LOGISTICS AND OPERATIONS RESEARCH
WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH (WUR)

2. Outline
 Introduction to reefer market and trends
 Reefer logistics and challenges
 EURECA project
 A system analysis of reefer logistics domain
© Behzad Behdani

3. Transportation demand for seaborne
refrigerated products keeps growing
(Increase) in seaborne
perishable transport
Increased population and demand
for perishable products
Customer needs for year-round
availability of fresh products
Growth in containerization
Increased concerns on food
safety/ quality
(Political) barriers against
globalization
(Increased) concerns on supply
chain security
Decrease in asset investment
Change in modality from air to
sea
© Behzad Behdani

4. What is (sustainable) cool chain
management?
Sustainable Cool Chain
Management
+ Sustainability
Cool Chain
Management
+ Quality
Supply Chain
Management
Cost efficiency
+ Timeliness
© Behzad Behdani

5. © Behzad Behdani
What is reefer logistics?
Reefer logistics deals with the process of planning, and controlling
the efficient, forward and backward flow logistics of packaging
(i.e., reefer) as well as products from the point-of-origin to the
point-of-destination in order to meet the requirements and goals
of actors in the chain.
OceanHinterland of OriginCool
Warehouse
(Exporter)
Seaport of Origin Seaport of Destination Hinterland of
Destination
Cool
Warehouse
(Importer)
Customs
Terminal operators
Port authority
Terminal
operators
Hinterland transport
operators
Maritime
carriers
ACTORS
Terminal
operators
Hinterland transport
operators
Port authority
Terminal operators
Governments
Shippers / Freight forwarders
PROCESSES

6. Processes for hinterland logistics
The PoR and its hinterland
Maintenance & service
logistics
Transshipment
Terminal handling
- Shipper/FF
- Maritime carrier
- Terminal operator
- Hinterland operators
- Custom
- Port authority
- Government
Hinterland transport
Distribution
- Shipper/FF
- Terminal operator
- Hinterland operators
- Maritime carrier
(reefer owner)
- Government
Forward reefer logistics
Handling at DCs
Maintenance
- Terminal operator
- Hinterland operators
- Maritime carrier
(reefer owner)
- Reefer maintenance
company
Empty repositioning
- Terminal operator - Hinterland operators
- Maritime carrier (reefer owner) - Shipper/FF
Reverse reefer logistics
Maritime
transport
© Behzad Behdani

7. Challenges in Cool Chains and Reefer
Logistics
Technical challenges
◦ Diversity of products (and their
requirements)
◦ Diversity of packaging (reefers)
◦ Need for power in every stage
of transportation,
transshipment and storage
◦ Maintenance of reefers and
energy consumption
Social challenges
◦ Fragmentation and diversity of
needs
◦ Mergers in shipping sector
◦ Insurance requirements
◦ Safety and security
requirements
© Behzad BehdaniRef: https://www.cma-cgm.com/ Ref: https://www.cma-cgm.com/

8. EURECA project:
Effective Use of Reefer Containers for conditioned
products through the Port of Rotterdam
© Behzad Behdani
Main objective and question:
How to design, align and organize the logistics port processes for
fresh produce reefer containers, in such a way that it will lead to new
business activities and an efficient, and sustainable port with
hinterland connections?
Theme 1 Effective use/handling of reefer containers in conditioned
supply chains
Theme 2 Governance for a transition towards a vital and sustainable
reefer flow
Involved parties: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Wageningen
University, University of Technology Delft, ABB, Deltalings-SmartPort,
Seamark Reefer Service b.v., ECT, Frugiventa, FloraHolland

9. A system analysis of reefer logistics
© Behzad Behdani
Actor Shipper Maritime carrier Terminal
operator
Hinterland
operator
Port authority Customs
Objectives Product quality
Timeliness
Operational cost
Sustainability
Operational cost
Capital return
Product quality
Sustainability
Operational cost
Capital return
Sustainability
Operational cost
Sustainability
Cargo attraction
to the port
Sustainability
Security
Health
Safety
Means
(examples)
Optimize stacking
pattern of boxes
in pallets
Optimize the
pallet storage in
reefers
Give products
post-harvest
treatment and
pre-cooling
Vessel pooling
Transshipment in
ports
Slow steaming
strategy
Green technologies
for reefers
Design of
customized services
for reefers
Provide value
added services
Prioritized
stacking of
reefers
Change free
storage time
Use intermodal
services
Invest in
information
exchange
On-off operation
for reefers
during transport
Provide land for
reefer growth
Invest in
information
exchange
Introduce modal
split clauses in
operator contracts
Using remote scanners
New inspection
technology (e.g., smart
seals)
Design of trusted trade
lines

10. A system analysis of reefer logistics
© Behzad Behdani

11. © Behzad Behdani
Example of system diagrams
Objectives
External factors
Means

12. Example of a trade-off of a means
Total
transport cost
Maritime
cost
+ +
Fuel
consumption
Application of Slow
Steaming strategy
-
Total
transport
time
Maritime
time
+
+
Product
shelf life
Product
appearance
+
Load integrity
during
transportation +
-
High quality
product
+
+
Acidificat
ion of
soil
+
Emission rate
from fuel
combustion
Ground
level
ozone
formation
Environmental
impact
+
+ +
NOx
+
GHG
Emission+
CO2SOx
+ + +
+
Cooling
energy
need
Possibility of
refrigerant
leakage
+
+ +
+
© Behzad Behdani

13. Multi-actor trade-off analysis
Road for
hinterland
transport
IWW for
hinterland
transport
Rail for
hinterland
transport
Fuel
consumption
Cooling
consumption
Environm
ental
impact
Total
transport
cost
-
-
+ + +
+
+
+
-
+
+
-
-
Liner shipping
Inland transport
Total
transport
time
Maritime
time
+
+
Total
transport
cost
Maritime
cost
+ +
Emission rate
from fuel
combustion
Fuel
consumption
Application of Slow
Steaming strategy
Ground
level ozone
formation
Environme
ntal
impact
-
+
+ +
NOx
+
Product shelf
life
Product
appearance
+
Load integrity
during
transportation +
-
High
quality
product
+
+
GHG
Emission+
Acidificati
on of soil
CO2SOx
+
+
+
+
+
Cooling
energy
need
Possibility of
refrigerant
leakage
+
+ +
+
© Behzad Behdani

14. Thank you for
your attention!
Behzad.Behdani@wur.nl