Cathay Cargo, the cargo-handling division of Cathay Pacific, has received accreditation by IATA for its existing mitigations for lithium-ion battery shipments.

Cathay Cargo and Cathay Cargo Terminal have received the certification by International Air Transport Association (IATA) Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Lithium Batteries (CEIV Li-batt) certification. In a press statement, Cathay Cargo says that with this new accreditation, both Cathay Cargo and the Cathay Cargo Terminal each now hold the full set of CEIV certifications, joining CEIV Pharma, CEIV Fresh and CEIV Live Animals.

According to the statement, CEIV Li-batt addresses an important issue for the air-cargo industry. The incorrect charging, handling and mislabelling of shipments containing lithium-ion batteries can endanger people and property, and has caused fires. This has become a bigger issue for the air-cargo industry as e-commerce continues to grow, increasing the incidence of undeclared or misdeclared shipments. 

The airline-specific CEIV Li-batt accreditation joins Cathay Cargo’s existing mitigations for lithium-ion battery shipments, which include a full range of fire containment bags (FCBs) and Fire Resistant Containers (FRC). The airline says that Cathay Cargo also operates its Cargo Agent Operation Programme and an additional indemnity scheme for mislabelled dangerous goods as the supply chain becomes more complex. 

The Cathay Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport has also independently achieved its own CEIV Li-batt accreditation for cargo terminal operators, ensuring customers’ shipments receive a safe and assured end-to-end experience, whether travelling to, from or through Hong Kong.

“The safe carriage of lithium-ion batteries is a core focus of our cargo business and we have introduced a coherent and far-reaching series of safety protocols with our customers and operational teams to mitigate risks over the past few years. The CEIV Li-batt accreditation now achieved by both Cathay Cargo and the Cathay Cargo Terminal will give further confidence to our customers that we adhere to the highest standards of handling in the industry,” says Director Cargo Tom Owen.

The statement adds that CEIV Li-batt formalises baseline standards to improve the competency and quality management in the handling and carriage of lithium-ion batteries across the logistics supply chain. The accreditation is also available to shippers, forwarders and cargo terminal operators. The entire programme is underpinned by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and IATA Lithium Battery Shipping Regulations (LBSR) and adds training, assessment and validation that demonstrate compliance with these regulations. 

“The air cargo market for products containing lithium-ion batteries is experiencing significant growth. We congratulate Cathay Cargo and its cargo terminal operator, Cathay Cargo Terminal, on successfully achieving IATA’s CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification. This accomplishment by one of the world’s largest cargo operators and its partner, located in one of the busiest logistics hubs globally, is a significant boost for the aviation industry. Furthermore, it assures the customers of these organisations that they are adhering to the highest safety and security standards when transporting products containing lithium-ion batteries,” says IATA Regional Vice President for North Asia Xie Xingquan.

“We will continue to innovate and optimise our processes around safe lithium-ion battery carriage. The work we are doing related to this will remain as the upmost priority for our operational teams,” adds Cathay Cargo’s Owen.

“As leaders in global airfreight operations, ensuring safe and secure delivery of all our shipments is of paramount importance to us. Cathay Cargo firmly believes that the entire supply chain shares the responsibility for ensuring safety during the transportation of lithium-ion batteries. We strictly adhere to safety regulations both on ground and in air, while prudently following established requirements,’’ says Regional Head Cargo, South Asia, Middle East and Africa Rajesh Menon. 

“Cathay Cargo is now certified with all four key CEIV certifications (Pharma, Fresh, Animals, and now Lithium) and we can offer a seamless service to our customers in India. We continue to tirelessly work to raise awareness among our shippers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, and employees about the correct handling of lithium battery shipments, ensuring they are in compliance with IATA requirements,” adds Menon.