AMSA publishes safety findings from battery fire incident on domestic vessel

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has released a summary of safety lessons learned from an incident involving an onboard fire on a domestic merchant vessel caused by thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery system.

overview

An explosion occurred on a chartered fishing vessel while at berth. The investigation revealed that the ignition source was a lithium-ion battery that was not holding its charge and was connected to a battery charger, thereby bypassing the battery management safety system.

After the explosion, the ship was no longer repairable.

What happened

On the day of the incident, an explosion occurred at 11:30 p.m. on a charter fishing vessel anchored at anchor. The force of the explosion threw debris up to 30 meters and ejected a 200 kg deck winch and part of the deck, which came to rest at the stern of the vessel.

According to AMSA, although there were signs of smoke and fire, the destruction was caused by the explosion itself.

The vessel owner reported that he had previously experienced problems with the lithium battery system attached to the onboard pot winch. On the afternoon of the incident, he had purchased a new charger and installation services from an auto electrician.

The electrician worked on the vessel and temporarily installed the new charger on the system so it could charge overnight. The electrician stated that they left the vessel at approximately 7:30 p.m. and installed the charger shortly before departure.

The explosion occurred at night while the ship was anchored. Fortunately, no one was on board at the time and no one was injured.

However, the ship itself was considered irreparable.

Investigation results

AMSA said that while the extent of the damage makes it difficult to draw conclusions from the explosion, it appears that the installation of the new battery charging system may have bypassed the battery management system.

It was also found that the lithium-ion battery site was not ventilated in accordance with Australian standards.

Security message

Ship owners/operators should develop and implement a procedure for charging electronic equipment and battery systems on board, taking into account the risk of thermal runaway, including the release of toxic and flammable gases and compounds.

When a lithium-ion battery thermally runs away, it releases intense heat and toxic gases, some of which are explosive. Such thermal runaways can also lead to fires that are extremely difficult to extinguish.

Lithium-ion batteries must be installed in accordance with the national standard for merchant ships, subsection C5B “Electrical”.

AMSA added that it is important that lithium-ion battery installations have an approved battery management system to avoid potential overcharge events. Ventilation airflows must also comply with manufacturer specifications.