You can ship lithium batteries by sea, but you must observe certain regulations to ensure their safe shipping. Regulators enforce strict shipping measures for lithium metal and lithium-ion batteries because of their high energy densities and potential for overheating if mishandled. Because of their high risk level, the Department of Transportation (DOT) classifies lithium power sources as Class 9 hazardous items.
What Are Lithium Batteries?
Lithium batteries are important power sources in today’s world. Rechargeable devices like mobile phones and laptops draw their power from lithium-ion batteries, while manufacturers install non-rechargeable lithium metal batteries in watches, cameras and calculators.
Industries build lithium power units with flammable electrolytes and high energy levels, which can lead to overheating and fires when the manufacturer designs them improperly or a short circuit occurs. Lithium batteries are high risk because once a fire starts, it’s difficult to extinguish it.
How to Ship Lithium Power Sources by Sea
While the packaging rules vary depending on whether you’re shipping stand-alone batteries or electronics with lithium batteries, the general guidelines your team should follow include:
- Packing lithium power units or electronics in a fiberboard, wood or metal box that completely covers them to prevent short circuits and provide crush protection.
- Sealing the shipment to contain electrolyte leaks. Your staff should ensure the goods are free from damage, tears and punctures before shipping.
- Encasing batteries and electronics in an upright position to avoid short circuits.
- Adding enough cushioning material to batteries or electronic packages.
- Wrapping batteries or electronics with inner and outer coverings.
Labeling Your Battery Shipment
Your team should employ these rules when shipping batteries:
- Utilize laminated labels, which can withstand condensation.
- Add the hazard tag, shipping name and United Nations (UN) number to the outer casing.
- Place the tags on a non-removable package.
Safety Tips
To ensure personnel and vessel safety, your team should assess the batteries’ watt-hours rating to determine the level of precaution to take while packing. Handle batteries with a high watt-hour rating with greater caution.
Additionally, provide cargo liners with guidelines on suppressing fire and mitigating electrolyte leaks.
Improve Battery Handling Through Training
Hazmat School offers a lithium battery training course that covers the proper shipping of these goods. You’ll learn how to package, categorize and label lithium battery shipments. Our class also reviews the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and teaches emergency communication protocols and the correct way to recycle or dispose of used batteries. We provide group discounts and allow professionals to work at their own pace when taking this course.
Visit our page now to enroll your entire team in this course.
Manages Hazmat School’s E-Learning courses and blog. Kirstie has extensive experience in the online training and education industry. Kirstie has worked with courses that offer a variety of safety and environmental certifications that satisfy OSHA, EPA and DOT requirements.
