Requirements and precautions for sea freight of cargoes with built-in lithium batteries

As an important energy carrier, lithium battery has been closely related to our life and its importance is self-evident. 2022, the export of electric vehicles grew by 131.8%, photovoltaic products grew by 67.8% and lithium battery grew by 86.7%. It has become a new growth point for China's exports. So what are the regulations and requirements for lithium battery cargo shipping, and what needs to be paid attention to in transportation? Today I will take you to understand the following.

 

First, what are the goods with built-in lithium battery?

There are many goods with built-in lithium batteries, including mobile phones, game consoles, laptops, Bluetooth speakers, torches and other electronic products we use every day, including vehicles containing lithium batteries, such as pure electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, etc.

 

Second, the classification of lithium battery cargo

According to the classification of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (39-18 edition), lithium battery cargo belongs to 9 categories of miscellaneous dangerous goods, mainly including lithium batteries transported separately, lithium batteries transported with equipment, vehicles containing lithium batteries and lithium batteries installed in freight devices. According to the different types of products, these four categories of goods are subdivided into seven entries, as follows:

Warm tip: different entries correspond to different forms of goods, you must accurately find the corresponding entries when declaring dangerous goods Oh ~

 

Three, lithium battery cargo transportation regulations

Next, we look at the requirements for the transport of lithium batteries:

1, lithium batteries need to pass the test in section 38.3 of the UN Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods Manual of Tests and Criteria, hold the corresponding certificate and provide a test profile.

2. Batteries and battery packs must be equipped with safety exhaust and short circuit prevention devices as required, and the manufacture must be guaranteed by a high quality management programme.

3. The package containing lithium batteries (packs) shall meet the construction and testing requirements of Chapter 6 of the International Dangerous Goods Regulations, obtain a certificate of conformity and display the exclusive markings for lithium batteries.

4、The container shall be packed in accordance with the relevant national standards, and the label of Class 9 dangerous goods shall be posted around the container.

5. Cargo owners and carriers shall complete the reporting and declaration procedures for dangerous goods on board in accordance with the regulations before transport.

In addition to the above requirements, the International Dangerous Goods Regulations also clarify the exemptions for some lithium battery cargoes through special provision SP188, and the eligible cargoes can be exempted from other technical requirements for transportation, which reduces transportation costs to a certain extent.

Warm tip: If you are not sure whether the goods meet the relevant conditions, you can be identified through qualified institutions to reduce the risk of safety and pollution.

 

Fourth, lithium battery cargo packaging requirements

1, to ensure that lithium batteries are individually packed in completely closed inner packaging, such as blister packaging or cardboard to ensure that each battery can be protected, to have a strong outer packaging, unless the battery or batteries installed in the equipment or packaging equipment, the total mass of the package should not exceed 30kg.

2. The packaging is covered to avoid short circuits or exposing the battery to any conductive material.

3. Ensure that the packaging is reliable to meet the requirements of the over UN38.3 test;

4. additional requirements for the transport of lithium batteries mounted in equipment, the equipment should be secured to prevent movement within the packaging, the packaging should be in such a way as to prevent accidental start-up in transit, the outer packaging should be capable of being waterproof, or waterproof through the use of an inner liner (e.g. plastic bag), unless the construction features of the equipment itself already have waterproof characteristics, and the lithium batteries avoid being subjected to strong vibration during handling.

5. The package is labelled with the correct lithium battery label and the cargo transport component displays the Class 9 Dangerous Goods placard, markings. When the package is placed in a pool package, the lithium battery markings shall be clearly visible or posted on the outside of the pool package, and the pool package shall be marked with the word "OVERPACK" and the height of the "OVERPACK" font shall be at least 12mm.

6, lithium batteries loaded in the container must be correctly stowed and reinforced, reinforcement and reinforcement strength should meet the requirements of both the exporting and importing countries, such as the United States Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the "Marine Transportation of Dangerous Goods Rules" have relevant provisions.

 

V. How to declare lithium battery cargo

Shippers are required to declare relevant materials to the competent authorities to prove that the goods meet the requirements of being manufactured in accordance with the quality management system, passing the corresponding test requirements in subsection 38.3, having appropriate anti-short-circuit devices and measures, the package being able to withstand a 1.2m drop test, and the package being marked with the lithium battery mark. The main materials to be provided are MSDS, packaging inspection certificate, description of short-circuit prevention measures, certificate of passing the test in section 38.3 of the Manual of Tests and Criteria, certificate of packing of goods, declaration of commission, etc.

Note: Lithium battery type goods have caused many accidents in maritime transport, so they must be packed and boxed according to the specifications before delivery for transport, and go through the relevant procedures according to the regulations. The maritime department found that the transport of lithium battery class goods not in accordance with the provisions of the behavior, will be severely punished according to law Oh, in addition, if the export of customs will also be the suitability of the packaging, the normative site inspection, after inspection, before transport.