Reefer Vessel

A refrigerated cargo ship that carries perishables (fruit, fish, meat, dairy) in insulated, temperature-controlled holds, distinct from a container ship carrying reefer boxes. Holds hold setpoints from about plus 13 degrees C for bananas down to minus 25 degrees C for frozen cargo, with forced-air circulation and, on some ships, controlled-atmosphere systems that adjust oxygen and carbon dioxide to slow ripening. Reefer ships move fast (often 18 to 23 knots) to protect cargo. The conventional reefer fleet has shrunk as refrigerated containers took over most of the trade.