EV and Battery Vehicle Shipping Preparation Checklist

1. Identify the correct vehicle entry

The booking must describe the actual propulsion system and installed battery rather than using a generic EV label.

IMO Amendment 42-24 assigns lithium-ion, lithium-metal and sodium-ion battery-only vehicles to UN 3556, UN 3557 and UN 3558 respectively. A trained dangerous-goods professional and the booked carrier should confirm the final declaration and any exception.

Maersk's 6 January 2026 advisory likewise instructs customers to use the new entries for applicable lithium- and sodium-ion powered vehicles and to align booking data, documents and placarding with Amendment 42-24.

2. Establish the vehicle and battery condition

Battery condition is a booking issue, not merely a cosmetic vehicle inspection.

Do not attempt high-voltage disconnection or battery removal without qualified personnel. A carrier may apply stricter acceptance rules or reject a complete vehicle showing battery damage, defects or unsafe symptoms.

• New or used status under the proposed carrier's definition
• Collision, underbody, flood, fire or lifting damage
• Battery warning messages or diagnostic faults
• Leakage, unusual heat, odour, smoke or deformation
• Open recall or safety campaign affecting the battery
• Battery repair, replacement or aftermarket modification
• Ability to start, steer, brake and move safely

3. Obtain a booking-specific SOC instruction

Do not assume that a common industry percentage is the carrier's rule for the booked sailing.

SOC limits can differ by carrier, vehicle category, new or used status, route and vessel arrangement. Ask for both the maximum SOC and the minimum operating level needed for terminal dwell, loading and discharge.

• Maximum permitted SOC
• Minimum level needed for safe vehicle movement
• When and how SOC must be measured
• Whether transport mode must be activated
• Whether onboard or terminal charging is prohibited
• Procedure if SOC is outside the accepted range

4. Prepare the technical and booking data

The carrier should receive enough information to classify, plan and handle the vehicle safely.

• VIN and exact model or trim
• BEV, PHEV, HEV or other propulsion category
• Battery chemistry, capacity and installed status
• Vehicle dimensions and gross weight
• New or used status and odometer where requested
• Condition statement, dated photos and diagnostic report where requested
• SOC declaration in the carrier's required form
• Operating, transport-mode and emergency instructions
• UN 38.3 test-summary availability when requested
• Dangerous goods declaration, container packing certificate and placarding where applicable

5. Confirm whether the carrier accepts this vehicle

Regulatory classification and a carrier's commercial acceptance are separate decisions.

Container and RoRo operators may treat condition, diagnostics, SOC, dangerous-goods documentation and terminal inspection differently. Written acceptance for one carrier, terminal or sailing does not automatically transfer to another.

6. Buyer questions before payment and dispatch

Obtain written answers to the questions that can affect acceptance, cost and timing.

Carrier rules, port interpretations and the IMDG Code change over time. Classification and acceptance should be reconfirmed for every shipment rather than copied from an earlier booking.

• Which carrier, vessel type and route are proposed?
• Is the vehicle booked as container or RoRo cargo?
• What UN entry and IMDG treatment will be used?
• Is the exact battery chemistry confirmed?
• What SOC range and evidence are required?
• Is the vehicle accepted as new or used under this carrier's definition?
• Are photos, diagnostics, a condition declaration or UN 38.3 summary required?
• What happens if the terminal identifies damage, a warning code or incorrect SOC?
• Who bears return transport, storage and rebooking costs after rejection?