You are in a tropical port. The refrigeration machinery on a container loaded with air- cooled fruit fails. It cannot be repaired for 18 to 24 hours. Which step should you take to reduce the temperature rise and spoilage of the fruit?

Correct Answer: Option D — Shade the container and periodically hose it down

When refrigerated container machinery fails in a tropical port, immediate thermal mitigation involves shielding the unit from direct solar radiation and periodically hosing down the exterior metal surfaces with water to absorb ambient heat through evaporative cooling.