Livorno port: 29,000 refrigerated containers handled in 2022, 11% of all full containers

Livorno port has seen a constant increase in the percentage of refrigerated containers loaded and unloaded since 2019.

Refrigerated containers

Refrigerated containers, or “reefer containers”, are able to maintain a controlled temperature inside, both for cooling and heating, to protect goods that require a particular level of temperature and humidity.

Reefer containers are mainly used for the transport of:

• Food;
• Pharmaceuticals;
• Chemicals;
• Composites;
• Other goods that require a constantly controlled environment.

There are several models of reefer containers, depending on the specific transportation needs. The most common models are the standard 20-foot and 40-foot ones, but there are also smaller and larger models.

In addition to standard models, there are also specialized solutions for the transport of goods that require a controlled environment. For example, there are reefer containers that are able to maintain temperatures below -20°C, even reaching -40°C. There are also reefer containers with ventilation functions, which are used for the transport of goods that require high humidity, such as flowers.

The use of refrigerated containers is very extensive and varies depending on the type of product that is transported and/or stored inside. For example, reefer containers are used for the transport of food products, such as fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. For these products, controlled temperature is essential to preserve freshness and quality during transportation and/or storage.

Refrigerated containers are also used for medicines and medical products that require a controlled temperature. In this case, controlled temperature is essential to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the product throughout its journey to the final destination.

The use of reefer containers is essential to guarantee the quality of products, especially for temperature-sensitive goods, and allows for an extension of their shelf life.

Statistics 2022 for reefer container handling at the port of Livorno

In 2022, over 29,000 refrigerated containers were handled, representing 11% of all full containers passing through Livorno port. 65% of these refrigerated containers were loaded or unloaded at the Terminal Darsena Toscana, a true logistics hub and reference point in the so-called “cold chain”,with more than 890 outlets for reefer storage, including 80 in inspection areas.
the Livorno Reefer Terminal (LR), together with TDT and Interporto Vespucci (where Sogese has its main office), hosts 4,500 square meters of cold storage warehouses for fruit and vegetables, plus another 2,000 square meters dedicated to fresh and frozen products. It represents a fully integrated system capable of adapting more and more to the continuous changes and new challenges of sustainable transition, digital transformation, and system integration.

Today, 77% of import reefer containers are visited by competent personnel within 48 hours of unloading.
In March 2023, the new facility with 3,000 pallet positions will be fully operational, while another 2,000 square meter structure will be built soon.

Characteristics of the Port of Livorno

The Port of Livorno spans 11 linear kilometers of quays and docks with 100 mooring points. The Tuscany Docks have approximately 1,700 meters of berths on the west bank and 750 meters on the east bank. The port area covers around 800,000 square meters within the customs area, but if adjacent areas, which are also used for large depots, warehouses, and yards for port activity, are considered, the total area reaches 2,500,000 square meters. The water surface of the Port of Livorno measures about 1,600,000 square meters.

The port boasts advanced logistics connectivity, with over 60 kilometers of railway lines directly linked to the Livorno-Pisa line. The port is also connected to the region’s main road and highway junctions, through links with the Florence-Pisa-Livorno highway, the A12 motorway, and the Aurelia Variant, in addition to the Cargo Village located at the Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport.

Sogese Headquarter

Since 1980, Sogese has been providing its container sales and rental services, refrigerated containers, and prefabricated boxes both in Italy and abroad. Sogese operates through directly managed depots and commercial offices in Melzo, Rome, Bologna, and Livorno, where the headquarters are located, within the Amerigo Vespucci Tuscan Interport.

The Port of Livorno is one of the most important in Italy, holding a prominent position internationally. It ranks 3rd in the commercial ports classification for the quantity of tons moved annually (over 36 million tons in 2021) and 4th in the tourist ports classification (over 3.5 million passengers in 2021). The location of the Sogese headquarters holds a strategic position, given the importance of the Port of Livorno, its logistic characteristics (highway and railway network), and its proximity to another important international port, the Port of Genoa.