Frozen cargoes or products that have been intensely pre-frozen have different needs for heat exchange than cargoes at ambient temperatures or fresh fruits and vegetables.

For the former, the objective is to prevent any heat from reaching them, which is achieved by tight stowage (in a block), spaced away from the walls and roof of the container. The circulation of cold air between the walls of the container and the cargo block effectively insulates it. For the latter, there are various loose stowage configurations that allow air to circulate throughout the cargo: