Short answer: sensitive cargo ships on our Africa lanes — after per-shipment document confirmation, never before. The rule is simple: scope and papers are agreed at quote time, so nothing is improvised at the terminal.
The document sets we confirm per shipment
| Cargo type | Core documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries / products with batteries | Test documentation for the cells/packs, packing declaration, correct labels and marks | Packing instruction and state of charge confirmed at quote; undeclared battery content is a refusal |
| Other dangerous goods | Classification and transport documentation per class, packing declaration | Class-by-class acceptance against the carrier's current list, confirmed before booking |
| Cosmetics | Ingredient/formulation information, destination registration or notification status where required, labels | Destination rules differ by country; the set is confirmed per shipment |
| Frozen cargo | Product spec with temperature range, reefer setting sheet, hygiene documents where required | Set point recorded at stuffing; excursion risk during inspection flagged immediately |
The three-step gate before booking
- Declare — you tell us exactly what it is, including battery content, chemistry, class or temperature range. Partial disclosure kills shipments.
- Confirm — we check scope against the carrier and destination rules for that week, and return the document list for this shipment.
- Book — only with a compliant declaration and complete papers. If either fails, we say no before your cargo is stuck, not after.
Full scope and exclusions live on the sensitive & special cargo page; lane coverage is on the China to Africa overview.
What gets refused outright
- Undeclared or misdeclared battery content inside "general" cargo.
- Classes or products outside the carrier's current acceptance list for the sailing.
- Cargo whose destination paperwork cannot be completed before departure.
- Anything a seller asks us to "describe differently" — truthful declaration is the one line we do not cross.
FAQ
Can you guarantee acceptance of my dangerous goods?
No one can guarantee it before seeing the documents and the carrier's current acceptance list. What we guarantee is the process: per-shipment confirmation of scope and papers before booking, so nothing is left to chance at the terminal.
Which battery products are typically workable?
Lithium battery products shipped under the applicable packing instructions with test documentation are routinely handled on our lanes. Pure high-class batteries and undeclared battery content are where shipments get refused — declare everything at quote time.
What do cosmetics need that normal cargo does not?
Ingredient and formulation information, product registration or notification status at destination where required, and correct labeling. We confirm the destination document set per shipment before booking.
How is frozen cargo kept in range?
Reefer settings are agreed at quote time — temperature range, ventilation and humidity per your spec — and the set point is recorded at stuffing. Temperature-excursion risk during any inspection is flagged to you immediately.