Improvements in or relating to ventilation of freight containers

A ventilation suction member 10, 100 for a freight container (12, fig.1a) with openings (24) in its wall (14) defining an air passage interface 30. The suction member comprises a plate 34 with a surface 36 having profiled edge 40 defining a plate edge 42. At least a portion 48 of the edge is shaped to be analogous to the profile 32 of the air passage interface, so that the two profiles can be positioned in register with one another. The suction member has a seal 44 around the plate edge for abutment against the container, and a ventilation passage 46 formed through the plate to permit the passage of air through the plate. The outer profiled edge and the seal permit suction of the suction member to the container upon extraction of air via the ventilation passage and positioning of the plate at the air passage interface. A method of ventilating the inside of a freight container comprises: extracting air through the plate, positioning the plate at the container air passage interface so that its profile is in register with that of the container, thereby suctioning the plate to the container, and continuing to extract air from the container.