Sea freight — FCL & LCL

IMDG-aligned ocean moves for lithium battery cargo when volume and transit time favour sea over air.

FCL or LCL?

Container choice affects more than price.

Volume, cargo control, consolidation acceptance and destination handling all influence the workable sea option.

Container choice

Dedicated container or consolidated cargo

FCL · one shipper's cargo in the container
- More control over loading and segregation
- Useful when volume or cargo profile supports a dedicated unit
- Container declaration, placarding and stowage still require review
- Pickup, stuffing and port cut-offs must be coordinated
LCL · shared with other shippers' cargo
- Practical for smaller lots when a consolidator accepts the cargo
- DG compatibility and consolidation restrictions can narrow options
- Package marks and documentation must stand on their own
- Additional handling increases the value of robust outer packaging

Schematic. Teal blocks are your cargo, grey blocks other shippers' cargo; LCL acceptance for battery cargo depends on the consolidator.

Workers loading cartons from pallets by hand in a warehouse

A forklift loading goods into an open shipping container

A cargo ship at anchor in calm water under a clear sky

IMDG in plain English

Sea shipments of lithium batteries are treated as dangerous goods under the IMDG Code. That means correct classification, packing, marks and labels, and documentation for the booking and the vessel operator.

When sea is often preferred

Larger volumes where air cost or restrictions are impractical
Cargo that is eligible for sea but faces tight air state-of-charge or cargo-aircraft-only limits
Routes where the schedule meets your delivery window

2026 framework: The IMO states that the IMDG Code 2024 Edition, including Amendment 42-24, became mandatory on 1 January 2026. See the official IMO publication page.

Carriers

Ocean carriers we support

We support bookings with the following ocean carriers.

Yang Ming
Wan Hai Lines
KMTC
Sinokor
TS Lines
Emirates Shipping Line
SM Line
Unifeeder
Antong Holdings

Carrier choice depends on the trade lane, cargo classification and each carrier's dangerous-goods acceptance at booking. The final carrier is confirmed on the booking. Logos are trademarks of their owners and indicate booking support only.

Cargo screening

What we need to know about the battery

Battery type or UN entry if known, packing method, weight and volume, origin and destination, UN 38.3 test summary and SDS, and the cargo-ready date.

Cargo screening

How is the battery presented, and in what condition?

Cells or batteries alonePacks, cells or spares shipped without equipment.UN 3480 (lithium-ion) · UN 3090 (lithium metal)Cargo guide
Packed with equipmentBattery and the device it powers in the same outer package, not installed.UN 3481 · UN 3091 (packed with equipment)Cargo guide
Contained in equipmentBattery installed in the device, e.g. tools, instruments, e-mobility parts.UN 3481 · UN 3091 (contained in equipment)Cargo guide

Condition screening

New, testedStandard review of test summary, SDS and packing.
Returned or usedScreened for damage, defects and missing test data before anything is offered.
Damaged, defective or recalledSeparate special provisions; many carriers decline. Reviewed case by case.

Original explanatory diagram. It does not replace formal dangerous-goods classification, which follows the applicable dangerous-goods rules (IMDG Code for sea, IATA DGR for air) and the battery data supplied by the manufacturer. Condition review

Documents

Checklist to send before a quote

Commercial invoiceShipperProduct names as the importer will declare them
Packing listShipperPieces, weights, dimensions per package
UN 38.3 test summaryManufacturerFor each battery or cell type in the shipment
Safety data sheet (SDS)Manufacturer / supplierCurrent version matching the battery model
Battery dataManufacturerChemistry, Wh rating or lithium content, state of charge where relevant
Packaging and label photosShipper / packerOuter packs, marks and labels before pickup
DG declaration detailsFrom the shipper's dataFiled by the carrier's agent before loading
Importer detailsImporterImporter of record, broker contact, destination registrations

Download the checklist (PDF, 1 page)

Anxin reviews documents supplied by the shipper and manufacturer; it does not issue UN 38.3 reports or SDS.

Quote boundary

What a sea freight quote separates

The commercial scope is aligned with the agreed Incoterms® 2020 rule. No example prices are shown here.

Quote boundary

Five cost segments in a sea freight quote

China origin
- Pickup or delivery into the origin port area
- Export declaration in China
- Origin terminal / CFS handling
Main carriage
- Ocean freight China → Destination
- DG and other carrier surcharges
- Any transshipment named in the quote
Destination port
- Terminal handling and delivery order
- DG handling at discharge
- Storage after free time
Import clearance
- Filing with destination customs
- Duties and taxes
- Importer of record and broker
Final delivery
- Trucking within the destination country
- Named address and unloading
- Only when quoted

Who usually bears each segment under common Incoterms® 2020 rules

Rule	China origin	Main carriage	Destination port	Import clearance	Final delivery
EXW	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
FCA	Seller	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
FOB	Seller	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer	Buyer
CFR / CIF	Seller	Seller	Per carriage contract	Buyer	Buyer
DAP	Seller	Seller	Seller	Buyer	Seller
DDP	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller	Seller

Simplified reading of Incoterms® 2020 cost allocation (DAP shown with delivery to the final address). The written quote names the rule, the place and the exclusions; this page shows no prices and no all-in offer.

Sea-freight milestones

A route is a sequence of confirmed handoffs.

1EnquiryCargo, origin, destination
2Documents checkUN 38.3, SDS, packing
3BookingAfter carrier acceptance
4HandoverAt the Chinese port
5ImportClearance at the destination

Each step is confirmed in writing; an enquiry does not create a booking.

A truck hauling a teal shipping container on a motorway

Sea freight from nine Chinese origin ports

Document boundary: We review customer-supplied certificates; we do not issue UN 38.3 or SDS / MSDS.

Disclaimer: Final acceptance depends on cargo specs, packing, route, carrier and destination requirements. We assist with review and DG declaration support; we do not guarantee carrier approval.

Planning a battery shipment by sea?

Share volume, packing, route, cargo-ready date and the battery documents available.

Request a sea review