Portable cooling unit and a portable storage unit

A portable cooling unit for cooling and insulating a vessel containing packages, bottles or bags of blood, blood plasma and medication during transit, the portable cooling unit comprising:

• a thermally insulating envelope that is arranged to house and thermally insulate the vessel, said thermally insulating envelope comprising a breathable reflective layer, a breathable waterproof layer and an opening for accessing the vessel, wherein the breathable waterproof layer provides a barrier that is impervious to water and vapor crossing the breathable waterproof layer towards the vessel but allows air to circulate therethrough,
• a cooling envelope that is arranged to cool and house the thermally insulating envelope and the vessel, said cooling envelope comprising two water-permeable layers and an opening for accessing the vessel, and
• a housing envelope that is arranged to house the vessel, the cooling envelope and the thermally insulating envelope, said housing envelope comprising an opening for accessing the vessel and a breathable water-permeable layer that allows moisture and/or water to cross the envelope;
• wherein the two water-permeable layers of the cooling layer are arranged to bound an enclosure containing an absorbent and moisture-wicking material, and further, wherein the absorbent and moisture-wicking material is arranged to cool the vessel via evaporation of water.