Lithium Batteries are becoming more and more present in our day-to-day living, including being on your vessel and unfortunately adds another layer of danger and cause of serious incident onboard.
AMSA reported a recent case, and we would like to bring it to your attention and look at the dangers more closely.
An explosion occurred on a charter fishing vessel whilst berthed. The investigation identified that the ignition source was a lithium-ion battery that was not holding charge connected to a battery charger in a way that bypassed the battery management safety system. The vessel was beyond repair following the explosion.
At 11.30 pm, a berthed charter fishing vessel experienced an explosion. The force of the explosion scattered debris up to 30 metres and ejected a 200 kg deck winch and a section of deck, which came to rest at the vessel’s stern. While there was evidence of smoke and fire, the destruction was caused by the explosion itself.
The vessel owner reported previously having issues with the lithium-based battery system attached to the pot winch on board. They had purchased a new charger and installation services from an auto electrician on the afternoon of the incident. The electrician was working on the vessel and fitting the new charger temporarily to the system to be left to charge overnight. The electrician stated they left the vessel at approximately 7.30 pm and set the charger shortly before departure.
The explosion happened at night and while the vessel was berthed. Fortunately, no one was onboard at the time and no injuries were sustained. However, the vessel itself was considered beyond repair.
Although the extent of the damage made conclusions from the explosion problematic, it appears the installation of the new battery charging system potentially bypassed the battery management system. It was also noted that the location of the lithium-ion battery installation was not ventilated as required by the Australian Standards.
As reported in the media, the issue with lithium battery fires in general is that they are difficult to extinguish. In addition, with vessel fires, you also have combustible materials onboard which provide further fuel sources once a lithium battery fire takes hold. Often, it’s not until the boat loses buoyancy, floods, and sinks that these boat fires will go out.
Not only will owners lose their vessels with these fires, if it is in a marina when fire breaks out there is also a high likelihood of causing damage to other boats and surrounding marina facilities.
Products that use lithium batteries include cell phones, tablets, laptops, electric toothbrushes, tools, solar power backup storage, cameras and even onboard systems.
Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) are energy-dense and contain material that is highly flammable. The risks and hazards associated with LiBs include fire and explosion, radiation, heat, chemical and electrical.
If the battery is rechargeable and has “Li” or “Lithium” printed on it, you can safely assume that it is a lithium-ion battery. Non-rechargeable or disposable lithium batteries, or lithium metal batteries should also be treated with caution as they can expel molten flammable metal and emit toxic gasses during a fire.
There are several situations that can lead to lithium-ion batteries catching fire, including:
When LiBs fail, they can undergo thermal runaway. This involves violent bursting of one or multiple battery cells, hissing and release of toxic, flammable and explosive gases, and an intense, self-sustaining fire.
Non-rechargeable or disposable lithium batteries, or lithium metal batteries should also be treated with caution as they can expel molten flammable metal and emit toxic gases during a fire. Small fires involving single use, disposable lithium batteries should be treated as a LiB fire.
You should be aware of your fire procedure onboard and follow this closely. Each vessel is different. Each crew member is different, bringing different items onboard, therefore it is imperative that crew have the knowledge and understanding to avoid a fire, and in worst case, follow procedures accordingly if needed.
Once the vessel’s engulfed, it’s not just the battery that’s fuelling the fire anymore, it is everything else onboard burning, including other flammables.
F-500 Fire Extinguishers have been approved to AS 1841 and have demonstrated effectiveness on lithium-ion batteries. The 4ltr extinguisher has a red body and does not come with a colour band. The 9ltr version is silver to differentiate it from the rest.
Crew should not expose themselves to potentially life-threatening hazards, including toxic gases, based on a false sense of hope that they can effectively fight a battery fire.
Since 2017, the ACCC has received 231 product safety reports linked to lithium-ion batteries and has been notified of 23 supplier-initiated product recalls, with 20 recalls due to fire risk from overheating or short-circuiting.
An ACCC national voluntary survey of more than 4000 Australians found 54 per cent of respondents used aftermarket chargers. Many respondents said they leave devices unattended while charging.
WOW! That is a staggering number of people without knowledge on how dangerous they are leaving their devices unattended, without quality chargers and if we combine this with an actual fire onboard, not knowing the procedure could lead to lost lives and business’.
There are currently guidelines in Australia and New Zealand for the installation of lithium batteries on your vessel. These are called AS NZ 3004 Standards. Your marine electrician who is installing your new lithium batteries must be familiar with the requirements of this standard.
First and foremost is to be very aware of what and where the lithium batteries are onboard, including the crews! And following these recommendations:
Check what you have onboard today, and ensure all persons onboard are adhering to the above guidelines to avoid a fire.
You may wish to engage a suitably qualified marine electrician to come onboard and complete a check of all electricals including the lithium batteries are not showing signs of wear and tear.
