Approved by the
U.S. Navy.
Trusted at sea.

A walk-in built for a restaurant kitchen will not survive at sea. The difference is not the refrigeration — it is everything around it.

Shipboard refrigeration takes punishment a land-based unit never sees. Underway replenishment and weapons shock load the structure; main-propulsion and auxiliary machinery vibrate the hull continuously; and salt air corrodes ordinary fasteners, hinges, and panel skins within a season. Foster's marine units answer each of these: shock resistance is verified to MIL-S-901D Grade A, sustained vibration to MIL-STD-167-1 Type 1, and corrosion resistance to 2,000 hours of ASTM B117 salt-spray — with marine-grade stainless hardware and no wood anywhere in the doors, frames, or floors to rot or warp.

The payoff is the same one civilian operators value: a sealed, foamed-in-place polyurethane panel (roughly R-7 per inch) holds temperature to ±1°F through constant door traffic, and a 3/16″ aluminum diamond-plate floor rated to 750 lb/ft² takes loaded carts and pallet jacks. The construction the Navy approved is the construction Foster ships to restaurants, hospitals, and cold storage nationwide.

Common questions

What makes a walk-in cooler marine-rated?

A marine-rated walk-in is built to survive shock, continuous vibration, and salt-air corrosion that destroy land-based refrigeration. Foster's marine units use 26-gauge galvanized, foamed-in-place panels with no wood in the doors, frames, or floors, marine-grade stainless hardware, and are verified to MIL-S-901D Grade A shock, MIL-STD-167-1 Type 1 vibration, and 2,000 hours of ASTM B117 salt-spray. The refrigeration is a sealed unit that holds temperature to ±1°F through the motion and duty cycle of a vessel at sea.

Is Foster actually a U.S. Navy approved supplier?

Yes. Foster has been a U.S. Navy approved supplier since 1946 and is registered in the federal system under CAGE code 89729 and SAM.gov UEI CHGKAELDDRP5 (Foster Refrigerators Enterprise Inc, Hudson, NY), verifiable at cage.dla.mil and sam.gov. The entity is an active manufacturer with a documented history of U.S. Navy / DLA Maritime and Veterans Affairs contract awards. NAVSEA drawings, material test reports, and compliance certifications are provided with a federal quote package.

What is MIL-S-901D and why does it matter for shipboard refrigeration?

MIL-S-901D is the U.S. Navy's high-impact shock test for shipboard equipment. It verifies that a unit keeps working after the shock of underway replenishment, weapons fire, or a nearby explosion. Grade A means the equipment is required for the ship's mission and must survive without failure. A walk-in that meets MIL-S-901D Grade A will not lose its door seal, panel joints, or refrigeration under shock loads that would destroy a commercial unit.

Can I buy a Foster marine walk-in for a commercial vessel, not just the Navy?

Yes. The same marine-rated platform ships to commercial fishing and processing vessels, yachts, ferries, cruise ships, offshore rigs, and research vessels. Every unit is custom-built around the vessel's space, with options for 316 marine stainless skins, heated freezer door frames to prevent frost heave, and remote or deck-mounted condensers for tight engine spaces.

How long does a custom marine walk-in take to build?

A custom marine or naval walk-in typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks to build, depending on size, finish, and refrigeration configuration. Federal and naval orders that require specific NAVSEA drawings, material test reports, or trade-agreement documentation can vary; Foster's engineering team confirms lead time against your contract vehicle and specification.