The launch ceremony of "Technical Requirements for the Safe Transport of Lithium Batteries on Ships". [Photo/WeChat account of Xiamen FTZ]
China's first industry standards for lithium battery maritime safety technology, "Technical Requirements for the Safe Transport of Lithium Batteries on Ships", were released in Xiamen on April 2 and will take effect on May 1. This marks a new chapter in the standardization and internationalization of China's maritime safety management for lithium battery transportation.
The standards combine international regulations with domestic practices. They are the first to provide detailed specifications in the transportation industry standards for the classification and numbering of ships carrying lithium batteries, safety requirements for lithium batteries, and safety technical requirements for packaging, transportation components, consignment, loading and unloading, carriage, and emergency response.
It provides the industry with a scientific, convenient, and unified framework for safety management, addressing the existing gap in domestic lithium battery maritime safety standards. It also aligns with relevant international conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), providing professional guidance for the safe export of lithium battery maritime transportation.
As the global new energy industry thrives, lithium batteries have become a key power source, driving increasing market demand. Fujian province has led the nation in lithium battery exports for 20 consecutive months, surpassing 100 billion yuan ($13.7 billion) in 2023 and 2024. Nearly 90 percent of these lithium batteries are exported from Xiamen Port.
