World Shipping Council Calls On Governments To Close Battery Cargo Safety Gap
Our take
The World Shipping Council’s call for governments to address the escalating safety risks associated with lithium-ion battery cargo highlights a critical and increasingly urgent challenge within global maritime logistics. The exponential growth in lithium-ion battery deployment, as underscored by the International Energy Agency's projection of a sixfold increase by 2025 compared to 2020, presents a complex interplay of economic opportunity and potential hazard. This surge is directly linked to the global transition towards electric vehicles and energy storage solutions, creating a significant increase in the volume of these batteries being transported by sea. The recent grounding of the MSC Baltic III [Salvors Pull MSC Baltic III Wreck Closer To Shore After Being Grounded Since February 2025] serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities inherent in large container vessels, and the potential for cascading failures when critical systems are compromised. The inherent risk of thermal runaway, leading to fires and potentially catastrophic explosions, demands proactive and harmonized regulatory frameworks, something currently lacking across international jurisdictions.
The current patchwork of regulations governing the transport of lithium-ion batteries is demonstrably inadequate to manage the scale of the problem. While existing guidelines address certain aspects of battery safety, they often lack the specificity and enforcement mechanisms necessary to mitigate the risks associated with the sheer volume and density of batteries being shipped. Furthermore, the increasing complexity of battery chemistries and designs—including the exploration of novel technologies like those envisioned in the Pink Corridor Project [Pink Corridor Project To Explore Nuclear-Powered Transatlantic Container Shipping Route]—introduces new and unforeseen challenges. The reliance on simulation and optimization strategies, as seen in research addressing oil spill response in Arctic environments [A hierarchical hybrid dispatch framework coupled with simulation–optimization for Arctic low-ice oil spill emergency response], underscores the need for sophisticated modeling and predictive capabilities to understand and manage these hazards effectively. A truly integrated data ecosystem, incorporating real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, is essential for proactive risk mitigation.
The WSC’s advocacy is not merely a reactive measure; it represents a proactive effort to prevent incidents that could have devastating consequences for the environment, human lives, and the global economy. The potential for widespread disruption to supply chains, coupled with the environmental damage from fires and potential spills, necessitates a collaborative approach involving governments, shipping lines, battery manufacturers, and regulatory bodies. The development of standardized testing protocols, enhanced container design, and improved fire suppression systems are all critical components of a comprehensive safety strategy. Calibration of existing regulations to account for the evolving battery landscape, particularly concerning the increasingly complex and high-energy density batteries entering the market, is paramount. The integrated nature of global shipping means that a single incident can have ripple effects across continents, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and harmonized standards.
Looking ahead, the challenge lies not only in establishing robust safety regulations but also in fostering a culture of safety awareness throughout the maritime industry. The increasing adoption of autonomous technologies and data-driven decision-making presents opportunities to enhance safety monitoring and response capabilities, but also introduces new vulnerabilities that must be addressed. A crucial question remains: can the industry and regulatory bodies adapt quickly enough to keep pace with the relentless innovation in battery technology and the corresponding increase in shipping volumes, or will we witness a preventable disaster that underscores the urgent need for more comprehensive ocean intelligence?
The World Shipping Council (WSC) is calling on governments to address a gap in international dangerous goods rules that allows containers carrying thousands of lithium batteries to be transported without carriers being informed of the hazard.
The call comes as battery transport grows rapidly and cargo fires remain a persistent risk at sea. Global lithium-ion battery deployment in 2025 was six times higher than in 2020, according to the International Energy Agency, with battery demand expected to double by 2030. Latest statistics by insurer Allianz show that a container ship fire occurs every 17 days.
Special Provision 188 of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code exempts smaller batteries from certain requirements when they meet specified testing, packaging and capacity criteria. However, there is no limit on how many exempt batteries can be consolidated in one container.
A container carrying around 4,200 laptops could therefore contain approximately 416 kWh of stored energy, equivalent to three or four electric vehicles, without requiring dangerous goods documentation or container placarding.
“Right now, a container can be packed with thousands of lithium batteries and still travel without being declared as dangerous goods,” said Joe Kramek, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council. “The SP188 exemption was intended to simplify the transport of individual devices with small batteries, not to make entire container loads invisible.”
Batteries are transported safely every day when they are properly declared and the risks are appropriately managed. The problem arises when carriers, crews, ports and emergency responders do not know the hazard is present.
Without that information, carriers cannot properly assess the risk, choose appropriate stowage, separate the container from other cargo or prepare an informed emergency response.
“We know what can happen when hazards are invisible,” Kramek said. “Batteries shipped under the exemption have caused serious container fires, putting people, ports, ships and the marine environment at risk.”
WSC has been supported by five governments and a broad coalition of industry organisations in submitting a paper for consideration by the IMO. It sets out a potential maximum container-level threshold, above which battery shipments would have to be declared and potentially placarded.
“The current rules are not working as intended,” Joe Kramek said. “As battery shipments continue to grow, we need a better solution that makes these cargoes visible and allows the risks to be properly managed.”
Governments will consider the issue at the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, meeting in London from 14 to 18 September 2026.
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