How do you ship lithium batteries by sea or air as a buyer (UN3480, Class 9)?

Direct answer: Use a dangerous-goods-qualified shipper and forwarder, make sure the battery has a UN38.3 test summary, and have the shipment classified, packed, marked and documented as UN3480 (lithium-ion batteries, Class 9). For air, a battery shipped alone must be at no more than 30% state of charge, cannot go on passenger aircraft, and under Section IA is limited to 35 kg net per package.

The classification: lithium-ion batteries shipped by themselves are UN3480, Class 9. Batteries packed with or contained in equipment are UN3481. The rules for each mode come from the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations for air, the IMDG Code for sea, and in the US 49 CFR. Your forwarder applies the edition in force on the shipping date. Treat this article as an overview, not as compliance advice.

Air: IATA says lithium-ion batteries shipped alone must be at no more than 30% of rated capacity, and the packing instruction for them (965) is cargo-aircraft only. Section IA, for batteries above 100 Wh, allows 35 kg net per package, UN-specification packaging, Class 9 and cargo-aircraft-only labels and a shipper’s declaration. Several Redway packs are listed above 35 kg each, for example the 48V 100Ah golf cart pack at 43 kg and the PM-LV51100-3U at 42 kg, so air freight under that instruction is likely not possible for them. Ask your forwarder about approvals or use sea freight.

Sea: the IMDG Code treats UN3480 as Class 9, with requirements for packaging, marking, documentation and stowage that your forwarder will specify. Redway’s pages list delivery terms of FOB, EXW or CIF and sea, air and land shipment. The incoterm decides who arranges and pays for dangerous-goods handling, so choose it with the forwarder, and check who is the named shipper of record.

Documents: the UN38.3 test summary must be available from the manufacturer and subsequent distributors, and PHMSA says the requirement applies under ICAO and IMDG rules too. Ask for it before shipment. Also expect a safety data sheet, a packing list showing weights and Wh ratings, and the dangerous-goods declaration.

At receipt, inspect the packaging for damage before moving it, check that the labels match the paperwork and keep the documents on file. If a package is wet, crushed or hot, isolate it and contact the forwarder and Redway. Not published on the product pages: packaging specifications, per-model Wh values for transport documents, and the state-of-charge shipped. Ask Redway for each in writing.