Cargo Frost Investigation: Power Failure and Drain Hole Issue Identified

During the on-site inspection, we found evidence of frost on both the surface and inner packaging of certain cargo, indicating possible exposure to temperature fluctuations and/or moisture ingress. Upon reviewing the temperature records, we did not identify any instances of high temperatures during the transportation process before handing over the container to the Consignee.

However, after the container was handed over to the Consignee, between 0846hrs on July 21 and 2257hrs on July 22, 2023, for a total of 39 hours, there were persistent occurrence failure codes indicating a power failure. During this period, the maximum return air temperature reached 0.6 degrees Celsius. These elevated temperatures may have contributed to the formation of frost on the cargo.

Upon conducting a thorough inspection of the container in question, we discovered that one of the drain holes, located at the front end left of the container, was not properly plugged. In the event that the non-return valve in the drain hole fails to function correctly, moisture-laden air can enter the container through the valve, potentially leading to the formation or worsening of frost on the cargo.