Refrigeration Plant
The refrigeration plant protects provisions and perishable cargo, but is also one of the onboard systems most exposed to strict international regulation on greenhouse-effect refrigerants.
Operational Explanation
The onboard refrigeration plant maintains the temperature of provision stores (meat, fish, vegetables, typically between -10°C and -15°C for frozen goods and 7-10°C for well-ventilated produce) and, on container or reefer ships, feeds the plugs for refrigerated containers: prolonged malfunction compromises not only crew comfort but, for cargo, significant commercial value.
The most relevant regulatory issue in recent years concerns fluorinated refrigerants (HFCs): the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol (in force since 1 January 2019) imposes an international phase-down of HFC production and consumption, with developed countries progressively reducing by up to 85% by 2036. At EU level, the new F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 prescribes an even faster HFC phase-down than the previous Regulation 517/2014, aiming for a near-complete phase-out by 2050, applicable also to ships flying an EU flag.
Regulatory Reference
Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol (in force since 1 January 2019); EU F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 (replacing the previous Regulation 517/2014), applicable to ships flying the flag of an EU Member State; Class requirements for the construction and maintenance of onboard refrigeration plants.
Scope of Application
Every ship fitted with a refrigeration plant for provisions and, where applicable, for cargo (reefer containers, refrigerated holds), with particular relevance of the F-gas regulatory framework for ships flying the flag of an EU Member State.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Identify the type of refrigerant used in the onboard plant and its Global Warming Potential (GWP), verifying compliance with the applicable regulatory framework (Kigali/F-gas).
- Systematically record every recharge or intervention on the refrigeration plant, including the quantity of refrigerant used, for the traceability required under the F-gas framework.
- Periodically verify the absence of refrigerant leaks, with particular attention to high-GWP refrigerants subject to servicing restrictions.
- Plan in advance the transition to low-GWP refrigerants during extraordinary maintenance or plant revamping.
- Keep compliance documentation (refrigerant log, certifications of personnel authorized to handle F-gases) available for inspection.
Practical Example
Example of management: an onboard refrigeration plant still using a high-GWP refrigerant is subjected to a transition plan towards a low-GWP alternative at the next scheduled extraordinary maintenance, anticipating the servicing restrictions envisaged by the F-gas Regulation (EU) 2024/573 for subsequent years.
Real Cases
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| No advance planning of the transition to low-GWP refrigerants before regulatory deadlines | Difficulty sourcing refrigerant for maintenance interventions close to the deadlines | Plan the transition well ahead of known regulatory deadlines |
| Incomplete recording of refrigerant recharges and their quantities | Inability to demonstrate the traceability required under the F-gas framework in the event of a check | Systematically record every intervention on the plant with the quantity of refrigerant used |
| Refrigerant leaks not detected promptly due to lack of periodic checks | Non-compliant emissions and the need for repeated recharges | Periodically verify the absence of leaks, not only in the event of an evident malfunction |
PSC Observations
Operational Tips
- Plan the transition to low-GWP refrigerants well in advance, don't wait for imminent regulatory deadlines.
- Systematically record every refrigerant recharge with its quantity, for the traceability required under the F-gas framework.
- Periodically verify the absence of refrigerant leaks, not only in the event of an evident plant malfunction.
Checklist
- Refrigerant type and related GWP identified and verified for compliance
- Log of recharges and interventions on the refrigeration plant kept up to date
- Absence of refrigerant leaks verified periodically
- Transition plan to low-GWP refrigerants planned in advance
- F-gas compliance documentation available for inspection