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Lithium-ion batteries are now part of everyday global trade, from laptops and mobile phones to power tools, e-bikes and electric vehicles. But as battery volumes grow, concerns are increasing about whether current maritime dangerous-goods rules provide enough visibility when large quantities are consolidated in a single container.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) has urged governments to ask the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to introduce a container-level declaration threshold for lithium batteries transported under Special Provision 188 of the IMDG Code.
SP188 allows certain lithium-ion cells and batteries to move with reduced dangerous-goods requirements, provided they meet conditions.
The problem is that the rules focus largely on the individual battery. They do not currently impose a specific limit on the total quantity of exempt batteries that may be loaded into one container.
As a result, thousands of individually compliant batteries could potentially be shipped in a single container without a dangerous-goods declaration or container placarding.
The concern is not simply whether the batteries comply with the technical requirements of SP188. It is whether the carrier, vessel crew, terminal and emergency responders know that the batteries are present.
Lithium-ion battery fires can involve thermal runaway, rapid heat release and reignition. If the cargo is not properly identified, the crew may not have the information needed to respond effectively.
The WSC is not necessarily calling for SP188 to be removed. Instead, it is proposing a limit on the total quantity of exempt lithium batteries permitted in one container.
Below that threshold, simplified treatment could continue.
Above it, the shipment would need to be declared and could be subject to additional dangerous-goods controls, including placarding and enhanced stowage requirements.
The Cargo Incident Notification System has separately recommended a 20kg gross battery-mass limit per container for lithium-ion batteries shipped under SP188. Batteries above that threshold would require full dangerous-goods compliance.
They have also recommend notifying shipping companies when lithium-ion cells or batteries are shipped under SP188 and highlighting relevant containers on load lists.
Requiring full dangerous-goods procedures for every small consumer device could add unnecessary cost and complexity to international trade. At the same time, allowing unlimited quantities of individually exempt batteries to move without meaningful container-level visibility may leave crews and emergency responders without critical information.
📸 and reference https://lnkd.in/dwXu3avv
