Refrigerated Cargo

WELCOME TO THE PREMIER COLD CHAIN SHIPPING SOLUTION.

Transporting refrigerated cargo is faster and more cost-efficient than ever – at least when you work with North Carolina Ports. The Port of Wilmington is located near ideal distribution channels, including water, interstate and rail, and delivers best-in-class vessel productivity and container gate turn times. That means we are poised to keep your business moving, and your costs down.

With the recent completion of Phase 2 of our refrigerated container yard, NC Ports now offers more than 1,500 reefer plugs with the ability to increase that number as we expand the Port of Wilmington’s container terminal.

In addition, there has also been meaningful industry investment and substantial growth outside our gates that will grow volumes through our terminals. Near the Port of Wilmington, more than one million square feet of new cold storage space is set to come online.

With North Carolina being one of the nation’s fastest growing states, more consumers require year-round access to fruits, vegetables and proteins. NC Ports is strategically positioned to meet this demand while supporting the continued growth in the export market for our region’s pork, poultry, fruits, vegetables and specialty crops.

Given North Carolina’s significant grocery sector footprint, and the perishable import distribution that service this growing demand, NC Ports serves as an ideal gateway for central U.S. and east coast locations, saving our customers time, money and distance to consumers.

Interested in discussing how we can accommodate your refrigerated cargo shipping needs? Let’s talk – call us at 1-800-334-0682.

Best in Class Productivity

One of the highest crane productivity rates on the U.S. East Coast
No vessel or rail dwell
Fastest turn times on the U.S. East Coast

On-Port Capabilities

Owner-operator port handling chilled, fresh and frozen
1,500 reefer plugs with the ability to expand to 2,000+
On-dock cold storage and cross-docking station
USDA, CBP collaboration for seamless on-port inspections
On-port cold treatment completion and conventional treatment
Overweight container allowance
Six-lane reefer service area
On-site maintenance and repair services
On-demand reefer wash station
Dedicated customer service team
Customer Access Portal (CAP): real-time visibility of cargo movements

Near-Port Capabilities

Near-port cold storage supporting produce, protein and life sciences
Near-port USDA APHIS certified cold treatment facility

Cold Cargo Opportunities

Sweet Potatoes
Pork & Poultry
Seafood

Bananas
Pineapples
Blueberries

Grapes
Citrus
Avocados

Apples/Pears
Melons
Fresh Vegetables

Regional Value-Added Services

Receiving
Grading
Packing
Re-packing

Bagging
Ripening
Pre-cooling
IQF

Slicing/dicing
Blanching
Labeling
Marketing

Nationwide Distribution
Real-time Inventory Control
Reporting

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to learn more about how your business can get a competitive advantage, please fill out and submit this online form.