Navigating the Risks:


Lithium-Ion Batteries, Electric Vehicles, and Fire Safety in the Maritime Industry By Karley Smith and Yvonne Tung, Brookes Bell


INTRODUCTION


Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are an everyday essential item embedded in everyday life, found throughout the world and in almost every household or workplace in one form or another. We can find them in portable devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, power banks and cordless vacuums, all the way through to electric vehicles (EVs) - scooters, buses, cars and bikes.


However, their widespread use has led to a surge in fire incidents, particularly involving EVs. Recent media reports and insurance data highlight a 17% increase in Li-ion battery-related fires in New Zealand alone1


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As the maritime industry embraces the global shift toward electrification, the integration of Li-ion batteries and EVs onboard vessels presents both opportunities and significant fire safety challenges. This article explores the science behind Li-ion batteries, the risks they pose, and the implications for maritime operations, drawing on recent incidents and emerging mitigation strategies.


EV battery packs are complex assemblies of connected cells known as modules, enclosed in protective casings with integrated cooling systems and Battery Management Systems (BMS). The battery pack is typically integrated into the chassis of an EV.


1 https://www.iag.co.nz/newsroom/news-releases/ami-reveals-increase-in-battery-related-fires THE REPORT | SEP 2025 | ISSUE 113 | 65


UNDERSTANDING THE BATTERY: CONSTRUCTION AND CHEMISTRY


Li-ion batteries consist of: • Electrodes (anode and cathode) – where Li-ions are stored during battery charging and discharge and where the electric current enters and leaves the battery.


• Electrolyte – organic solution that the Li-ions pass through but electronically insulating. This is the flammable component of a typical battery.


• Separator – A porous membrane that physically separates the electrodes from one another and allows Li-ions through.


During discharge, Li-ions flow from the negative electrode (anode) to the positive electrode (cathode). When the cell is charging, the ions flow in the opposite direction, from cathode to anode.


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