WSC Advises Governments to Bridge the Safety Gap in Battery Shipments

The World Shipping Council (WSC) is urging nations to close a loophole in international dangerous goods regulations that permits the transportation of containers containing thousands of lithium batteries without alerting carriers to the risk.

The demand is made at a time when battery transportation is expanding quickly, and cargo fires are still a constant threat at sea. The International Energy Agency reports that the deployment of lithium-ion batteries worldwide was six times greater in 2025 than it was in 2020.

By 2030, battery demand is predicted to treble. A container ship fire happens every 17 days, according to the most recent data provided by insurance company Allianz.

WSC Alerts: SP188 Exemption Hides Containerised Battery Risks

Smaller batteries that satisfy particular testing, packaging, and capacity standards are free from some regulations under Special Provision 188 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code. However, the number of exempt batteries that can be combined into a single container is unlimited.

Therefore, without the need for dangerous goods paperwork or container placarding, a container holding about 4,200 computers might hold about 416 kWh of stored energy, or three or four electric cars.

Notably, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council, Joe Kramek, emphasised that containers filled with numerous lithium batteries can currently be transported without being classified as dangerous goods. He noted that the SP188 exemption was meant for easier transport of individual devices with small batteries, not for obscuring full container shipments.

Routinely, batteries are transported safely when they are correctly declared and the associated risks are effectively managed. However, issues emerge when carriers, crews, ports, and emergency responders are unaware of the hazards involved in transporting batteries.

Maritime Online Courses investigate the “safety gap” in battery exports, which is a regulatory loophole in maritime shipping that allows thousands of small, individually exempt lithium-ion batteries to be packed into a single container and exported unregistered as dangerous commodities.

WSC Urges the IMO to Mandate Battery Cargo Declarations

Carriers require specific information to effectively evaluate risk, select suitable stowage options, segregate containers from other cargo, and formulate a knowledgeable emergency response plan.

Kramek highlighted the risks associated with invisible hazards, specifically referencing how batteries shipped under certain exemptions have led to severe container fires. These incidents pose threats not only to individuals but also to ports, ships, and the marine environment.

WSC has received backing from five governments and various industry organisations to submit a proposal to the IMO. The proposal outlines a potential maximum threshold for container levels, above which battery shipments must be declared and may require placarding.

Furthermore, Joe Kramek expressed concerns regarding the ineffectiveness of current regulations, stating that as battery shipments increase, a more effective solution is necessary to enhance visibility of these cargoes and adequately manage associated risks.

In essence, governments are set to discuss the matter at the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, which will convene in London from September 14 to September 18, 2026.

This meeting will focus on pertinent issues related to the transportation of cargo and containers by sea, stressing international regulations and best practices in maritime safety and logistics.

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