Transshipment is the transfer of cargo from one vessel or vehicle to another at an intermediate hub before the final destination, and it matters in food trade because each transfer introduces temperature, handling and dwell-time risks.
In trade practice
Logistics teams must confirm reefer plug availability at the hub, agree maximum dwell periods in the transport contract, and obtain continuous temperature logs covering each leg. Buyers should request pre-shipment routing plans that name the transshipment port and expected dwell time. A common mistake is treating transshipment as a single transit event rather than two separate cold-chain segments, each requiring its own monitoring record.
In a specification
A purchase specification or transport contract may state that transshipment is permitted only at named hubs, with a maximum dwell period and unbroken temperature logging required across all legs.