MSC and GSBN Collaborate to Ensure Safety of Lithium Battery Shipments

MSC is delighted to declare its partnership with the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an impartial, nonprofit consortium facilitating the paperless, accessible, and sustainable expansion of global trade through its data infrastructure and network of collaborators, to bolster safety measures in the transportation of lithium battery shipments. The unveiling of this collaboration took place jointly by MSC and GSBN during the SMDG’s 78th CDC and Plenary Meeting in Antwerp.

With the rising incidence of misdeclarations and the consequential risk of fire, the shipping industry is increasingly alarmed by the growing prevalence of lithium-ion batteries transported aboard container ships. In response to this concern, MSC has collaborated with GSBN to integrate its lithium battery shipment booking process. GSBN has broad access to top testing laboratories and certification providers in China, including SICIT and Pony Testing.

Following testing, unchangeable safe transportation certificates can now be directly shared by the laboratories through GSBN’s blockchain network, seamlessly accessible during booking by MSC. This not only enhances the overall customer experience but also replaces a frequently paper-based process, where verifying such certificates is challenging and poses risks such as loss, mislabeling, and fraud. The aim is to expand the collaboration to encompass a broader range of certificates and to increase the network of laboratories to provide greater coverage for carriers.

In the words of Bertrand Chen, CEO at GSBN, "The surge in demand for lithium shipments has presented fresh challenges for both the industry and its stakeholders. Our objective, through these partnerships, is to leverage technology in bolstering the global sustainability endeavor and usher in a new era of shipping safety. Looking ahead, we strive to expand our collaboration to include additional shipping lines and certification providers worldwide, ensuring that every voyage prioritizes safety."

Dirk Van de Velde, MSC's Chief Health, Safety, Security, and Environment Officer, stated, "Our collaboration with GSBN offers an ideal solution." It allows us to provide customers with a smoother experience from the booking stage, all while ensuring the secure transportation of cargo that requires special handling. This achievement has been facilitated by GSBN's blockchain network, granting access to leading testing laboratories and certification providers in China, a key global hub for goods with lithium-ion batteries.”

MSC, a premier container shipping line globally, is exploring avenues to collaborate and join GSBN's broader initiatives aimed at enhancing the safe transportation certification process using blockchain technology. This recent development is an extension of previous partnerships with fellow members like COSCO Shipping and OOCL.