World Shipping Council Calls for Revisions to Lithium Battery Transport Regulations

The World Shipping Council (WSC) has issued a call for governments to address a critical gap in international shipping regulations concerning the transport of lithium batteries. This appeal arises as the demand for lithium-ion batteries continues to escalate, with battery demand expected to double by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.

Currently, under Special Provision 188 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, smaller lithium batteries are exempt from certain dangerous goods requirements if they meet specific testing, packaging, and capacity criteria. However, there is no limit on the number of exempt batteries that can be consolidated in a single container. This means a container filled with approximately 4,200 laptops could contain around 416 kWh of stored energy, equivalent to that of three or four electric vehicles, without needing to be declared as dangerous goods, as reported by WSC.

“Right now, a container can be packed with thousands of lithium batteries and still travel without being declared as dangerous goods.”Joe Kramek, President and CEO, World Shipping Council

Joe Kramek, President and CEO of WSC, stated that a container can be packed with thousands of lithium batteries and still travel without being declared as dangerous goods. He added that the SP188 exemption was intended to simplify the transport of individual devices with small batteries, not to make entire container loads invisible.

The safety implications of this loophole are significant. Allianz statistics show that a container ship fire occurs on average every 17 days, raising concerns about the risks posed by undetected hazardous materials. Kramek emphasized that while batteries can be transported safely when properly declared, the current regulations fail to inform carriers, crews, and emergency responders of the hazards present in many shipments.

“We know what can happen when hazards are invisible. Batteries shipped under the exemption have caused serious container fires, putting people, ports, ships, and the marine environment at risk.”Joe Kramek, President and CEO, World Shipping Council

In light of these dangers, WSC has garnered support from five governments and a coalition of industry organizations to submit a proposal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This proposal seeks to establish a maximum container-level threshold for lithium battery shipments, above which proper declarations and placarding would be required.

As the shipping industry grapples with the challenges posed by increasing battery shipments and the associated fire risks, the need for regulatory reform has become more pressing than ever. Kramek remarked that the current rules are not working as intended and that as battery shipments continue to grow, a better solution is needed that makes these cargoes visible and allows the risks to be properly managed.