The dangers of carrying
lithium-ion batteries on ships has been highlighted in an Allianz Global
Corporate & Speciality report, which ranks fire and explosion as the number
one cause of marine insurance losses by value from 2017 to 2021. The research,
issued in November 2022, also reveals the growing threat of fires caused by
lithium-ion batteries that are not stored, handled or transported correctly.
In damaged lithium-ion
batteries, individual cells are prone to overheating, expelling flammable and
toxic gases, and affecting surrounding cells as part of an explosive chain
reaction called thermal runaway. While such perils have been widely reported,
there is little talk in the maritime industry about the inconsistent training
methods for dealing with fires caused by lithium-ion batteries onboard vessels.
The biggest concern is
that firefighting crews do not have a standard approach for quelling a blaze
originating from a lithium-ion battery. Some firefighters recommend throwing a
blanket over the fire, while others suggest plunging a burning electric vehicle
into a huge tank of water.
The lack of consensus
on how such fires should be dealt with means that few, if any, STCW
firefighting training programmes cover lithium-ion batteries. That creates a
gap in expertise, making it incredibly difficult to know what type of training
seafarers should receive.
It also puts the lives
of crewmembers – many of whom have limited knowledge about thermal runaway and
the warning signs before an electric vehicle battery explodes or ignites – at
risk. Without training, seafarers cannot be expected to attempt to prevent
damaged lithium-ion cells from creating a thermal runaway chain reaction, which
could spark an electric vehicle fire so powerful that it would need 150,000
litres of water to extinguish.
In the near-term,
modules that address the dangers of lithium-ion batteries should be added to
existing STCW firefighting courses. We then need specific training programmes
set up globally and run by experts who can teach seafarers how to deal with
this potentially life-threatening hazard.
Establishing what type
of training mariners need is the first challenge. The next is ensuring vessels
have the right equipment on board to handle a lithium-ion battery fire in line
with what they have been taught. For example, crew members may learn that the
best approach for dealing with a burning electric vehicle is to submerge it in
a tank of water. But what is the point in teaching them this if the ship lacks
the right kit or machinery for doing that safely?
Another issue is that
electric vehicles are loaded onto carriers in the same way as cars with
combustion engines. Petrol or diesel cars that ignite are relatively easy to
deal with as each tank has a small amount of fuel that will quickly burn out.
With electric vehicles, each lithium-ion battery needs about 50% charge to ensure
it does not go flat while being shipped.
Loading electric
vehicles with lithium-ion batteries, each carrying a substantial amount of
energy, in the same way as standard cars is recipe for a potential catastrophe.
If one battery ignites, it can cause a chain reaction, sparking a huge blaze
that mariners will struggle to contain. As part of any training courses,
specialists need to think about how electric vehicles are loaded onto car
carriers and whether crew members have enough room around burning vehicles to
contain the blaze.
A definitive solution
for dealing with lithium-ion batteries that overheat, catch fire or explode
will likely come from chemistry experts or firefighters. Until that happens,
our advice to shipowners and operators is to invest in the latest
fire-protection systems such as infrared cameras and heat sensors that can
detect issues before a thermal runaway occurs. By installing modern detection
systems, maritime companies can safeguard the lives of seafarers who lack the
knowledge or training to handle blazes caused by highly volatile lithium-ion
batteries.