Virtual Dangerous Goods Packaging (also known as “Virtual Dangerous Goods Packaging Certificate”) is a kind of filing electronic certificate introduced by the maritime department for dangerous goods that cannot be packaged in standard packaging containers (e.g., new energy vehicles, large-scale equipment, etc.). It replaces the traditional entity “Dangerous Goods Packaging Use Identification Result Sheet”, which is generated by submitting the filing materials directly to the Maritime Safety Administration and has the same legal effect. The following three aspects are specifically analyzed from the definition of background, applicable ports and advantages.

Virtual Dangerous Packaging - Definition and Background

Core Principle

For dangerous goods (such as new energy vehicles) that cannot be packed into standard UN packages due to their volume and shape, enterprises do not need to conduct physical package inspection, but submit documents including Chemical Safety Data Sheet (SDS/MSDS) and Transportation Hazardousness Appraisal Certificate to the Maritime Safety Bureau, and then generate electronic filing vouchers after review.
Typical scenario: when new energy vehicles (UN3171 category) need to be exported by sea, because the whole vehicle can not be boxed, it is necessary to complete the compliance declaration through the virtual dangerous package.

Difference with traditional Dangerous Goods Certificate

Traditional Dangerous Goods Certificate
1. Dangerous goods that can be packed into standard package
2.Require physical packaging performance inspection and use of identification
3. Equal legal effect

Virtual dangerous package certificate:
1.Whole vehicle / large equipment
2. Marine record to generate electronic vouchers
3. The same legal effect

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Virtual Dangerous Package--Ports of Undertaking

At present, the virtual dangerous package mainly relies on the coastal port maritime department to handle, inland ports do not support for the time being. The specific coverage is as follows:
1. Qingdao Port: West Coast New Area “Yun Gang Tong” system has integrated the approval process of dangerous goods and supports electronic filing, which significantly improves the approval efficiency.
2. Tianjin Port: Through the “Dangerous Goods Transportability Assessment” system to strengthen electronic supervision, the virtual dangerous package handling process is more mature.
3. Shanghai Port/Ningbo Port: Relying on the “Green Channel”, the Yangtze River Delta region gives priority to the filing of virtual dangerous package, and the service covers the export demand of new energy vehicle enterprises.
4. Qinzhou Port in Guangxi: the first “joint approval” model for hazardous chemicals in China, and the virtual dangerous package is included in the cross-departmental coordination process to enhance the convenience of handling 
Note: New energy vehicles from inland cities (e.g., Chongqing, Wuhan) need to be transported to the above coastal ports to complete the filing of the virtual dangerous package before being exported.

Virtual Dangerous Goods - Key Points and Advantages

Simplify the process and shorten the cycle 
Eliminate the need for physical packaging inspection, factory inspection, etc., and compress the processing cycle from 3-5 days to 1-3 days for the traditional dangerous package certificate. After Qingdao Port piloted the “Cloud Port Pass” system, the approval efficiency of dangerous goods has increased by 70%, and the approval of oil tankers can be completed within 60 seconds.

Reduced costs 
Direct costs: Save on packaging container costs (e.g. UN-certified steel boxes) and performance inspection fees 
Indirect costs: Avoid logistical delays due to inland transshipment to ports (e.g. Chongqing car companies need to ship vehicles to coastal ports first)

Enhance compliance and safety 
The system automatically matches the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), reducing human errors in filling out the form. Qingdao Port has added a new module called “Box Information”, which allows real-time positioning of dangerous goods stockpiles and strengthens the supervision of mixed stockpiles.

Promote regional integration of services 
and “smart port” integration (such as Qingdao Port “Yun Gang Tong” platform), to realize customs clearance, maritime filing, terminal operations, one-stop processing Qinzhou Port inter-departmental joint approval model, cracking the problem of multiple declarations by enterprises.

  Virtual dangerous package is an important innovation of maritime supervision to adapt to the new industry (such as new energy vehicle exports), which has been implemented in Qingdao, Tianjin, Shanghai/Ningbo, Qinzhou and other major coastal ports. Its advantages are concentrated in three aspects: time improvement, cost optimization, and compliance enhancement, especially providing a key solution for the export of large-scale indivisible dangerous goods. With Jiangsu, Shandong and other provinces promoting “100% digital management of dangerous goods terminals”. In the future, virtual dangerous goods package is expected to cover more ports and further standardization.

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