Shipping
Lithium BatteriesRevised April 2011
Shipping
Lithium Batteries
The information provided below is intended only to assist you in shipping an instrument from your lab to a deployment location and vice versa.
Depending on their classification, the shipment of lithium batteries is subject to safety regulation concerning Dangerous Goods or Hazardous Material imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the International Air Transportation Association (IATA), and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Other countries may also have their own regulations. YOU, the shipper, are responsible for compliance with the law. We can only advise you of the existence of the law and the classification of the battery pack (our product) under the law.
Lithium Battery Shipping Guidelines provides background information on the applicable regulations as well as Sea-Bird's interpretation of those regulations, how they apply to the batteries in our equipment, and how we package and label our equipment.
Discussed below are:
See Lithium Batteries Shipped Inside (installed in) Equipment
and Lithium Batteries Shipped as Spares in Appendix A of
Lithium
Battery Shipping Guidelines for packaging and labeling requirements.
Note: SBE 39-IM with this serial number range is referred to as SBE 39-IM (V1)
in the shipping guidelines.
Do not return this used battery to Sea-Bird. Remove the battery from the instrument prior to shipping to Sea-Bird.
See Lithium Batteries Shipped Inside (installed in) Equipment
and Lithium Batteries Shipped as Spares in Appendix A of
Lithium
Battery Shipping Guidelines for packaging and labeling requirements.
Note: SBE 39-IM with this serial number range is referred to as SBE 39-IM (V2)
in the shipping guidelines.
Do not return these used batteries to Sea-Bird. Remove the batteries from the instrument prior to shipping to Sea-Bird.
Sea-Bird ships these batteries outside of the instrument, not assembled in the battery pack, in a heat-sealed bag placed in bubble wrap and inside strong packaging.
If two or more of these battery sticks are assembled into the instrument’s battery pack (either inside or outside the instrument housing), they are connected in parallel and are classified as Dangerous/Hazardous Goods. The assembled battery pack does not comply with regulations requiring battery packaging test documentation and therefore MUST NOT BE SHIPPED VIA COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING PASSENGER AIRLINES, OR CARGO CARRIERS SUCH AS FEDEX, DHL, UPS, ETC.
See Lithium Batteries Shipped With (along side) Equipment and Lithium Batteries Shipped as Spares in Appendix A of Lithium Battery Shipping Guidelines for packaging and labeling requirements.
Do not return these used batteries to Sea-Bird. Remove the batteries from the instrument prior to shipping to Sea-Bird. If you send the batteries to Sea-Bird, we will package, label, and document them properly and return them to you. The costs for this work are not insignificant, and we will charge you a fee for handling.
Note: In July 2008, Sea-Bird began shipping 12 AA lithium batteries (PN 50441) with a retrofit battery pack (PN 801797) for new MicroCAT and SBE 44 orders and for battery replacement orders. The shipping restrictions for these AA lithium batteries are similar to those for the PN 80981.1 batteries. See Application Note 89 for battery pack installation details.
See Lithium Batteries Shipped Inside (installed in) Equipment and Lithium Batteries Shipped as Spares in Appendix A of Lithium Battery Shipping Guidelines for packaging and labeling requirements.
As of February 2004, Sea-Bird does not ship assembled Electro Chem lithium battery packs, due to changes in U.S. DOT and IATA regulations. If shipping Electro Chem cells or batteries by commercial carrier, transport them in accordance with DOT and IATA regulations. Sea-Bird cannot advise you on this matter; consult the proper authorities.
Note: We sell a battery pack kit (which does not include the batteries); you can use the kit to build a battery pack with Electro Chem lithium cells that you purchase elsewhere (see WGT's website for purchasing information). See the SBE 16, 16plus, 16plus-IM, 16plus V2, 16plus-IM V2, or 26 listing on our Spare Parts Kit page for a link to the battery pack kit instructions.
Do not return used Electro Chem Lithium batteries to Sea-Bird. Remove the batteries from the instrument prior to shipping to Sea-Bird. If you send the batteries to Sea-Bird, we will not ship the batteries back to you. If you cannot arrange for pick-up of the batteries at our factory, we will dispose of the batteries for you, and we will charge you a fee for disposal.