Reefer Monitoring System Introduced at Container Cargo Terminal

GERMANY – A fully-automatic system for monitoring reefer containers has been introduced at the C. Steinweg (Süd-West Terminal) multi-purpose cargo handling facility at the Port of Hamburg. The system has been developed and launched by the Austrian technology group Identec Solutions, specialists in wireless sensor and localisation applications.

As a rule, reefer containers are manually checked by staff at cargo handling terminals at specific intervals, usually of between four and eight hours, for normal functioning, temperature, humidity and other parameters. This effort has now been replaced by Identec's CTAS Reefer System developed by Identec Solutions, which records, notifies and processes all data fully automatically.

Since the end of 2016, a monitoring device tag has been attached magnetically to every incoming reefer container at C. Steinweg as an automatic link with the container’s controller. Once connected, the tag notifies relevant reefer data every 15 minutes by radio signal. Should any discrepancies occur, these generate an automatic alarm signal facilitating an immediate response.

CTAS Reefer is linked with C. Steinweg’s terminal operating system, completely integrating reefer container processes in terminal operation. When the box leaves the terminal again, the tag is simply removed and used for the next container arriving. All data handled remain archived in the system and can be retrieved in the event of enquiries or insurance cases. Stephan Piworus, Global Vice President, Sales Ports & Terminals for Identec Solutions in Hamburg, commented:

“Use of the CTAS Reefer facilitates substantial reduction of labour-intensive, manual checking and documentation input. Multiple data input is unnecessary, virtually eliminating any risk of errors in data recording. C. Steinweg not only has an uninterrupted record of the state of a reefer for the duration of its stay at the terminal, but with the box being checked every 15 minutes, also boosts both safety and customer satisfaction.”

CTAS Reefer is the first system of this kind to be installed in the Port of Hamburg. Besides Hamburg, CTAS Reefer is already in service in the Netherlands, USA, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Pakistan, Argentina, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Colombia.