UK Chamber of Shipping to examine risks of lithium-ion batteries
The UK Chamber of Shipping has established an ad hoc working group to gain a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The group is to examine various aspects of batteries, including how to guard against such batteries going into thermal runaway and catching fire.
The group has participants from the Chamber membership, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and expert specialists. It is aiming to develop:
– Proposals for regulations relating to the carriage of LIBs on ships – Recommendations for training and information for ships’ crews – Procedures for detecting damaged or faulty LIBs – Equipment that can be used in ports and on ships to help manage the risks effectively.
The carriage, stowage, and safety of electric vehicles is an issue the shipping industry aims to tackle. Lately, in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and accelerate the energy transition, the marine industry has begun to incorporate batteries onboard ships. However, for marine stakeholders, batteries present both a unique set of opportunities and a challenge.
Batteries can be very dangerous cargo if not handled properly. Some of the reasons include:
– Fire (Li-ion batteries contain electrolyte, an ignitable liquid); – Explosion (resulting from the release of ignitable vapor/gases in a confined space); – Thermal runaway (a rapid self-heating fire that can cause an explosion); – Toxic gases that these hazards can produce.
And what about lithium-ion challenges with superyachts and small craft?
If you have read this article and think it mostly concerns the commercial shipping industry, you are correct; it does. But there are some very real concerns from those operating in the small craft and workboat surveying sectors too. Several inland waterways surveyors in the UK have, for example, raised very real concerns about the configuration of lithium-ion battery installations on narrowboats. In addition, a number of small craft and yachts are being retrofitted with lithium-ion batteries, including in some cases, with batteries designed specifically for houses (which are cheaper) and not boats! The potential for catastrophe in those circumstances is very real. And the superyacht sector is not devoid of these major concerns either. Last year almost 70 superyacht fires were attributed to lithium-ion battery fires. However, in most cases these were caused not by the main superyacht battery installation itself, but by the lithium-ion powered toys and accessories.
This article entitled ‘Are lithium-ion batteries safe on yachts – and other vessels?’ will give you an insight to this particular issue and can be read at
https://bit.ly/48HUSIr. Or scan the QR code.
70 | ISSUE 106 | DEC 2023 | THE REPORT
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