Lithium-ion Battery Fires: What we know so far - Maritime Professional Council of the UK [2026, PDF]

Lithium-ion Battery Fires: What we know so far

Year: 2026
Language: English
Author: Maritime Professional Council of the UK
Edition: 2nd
Format: PDF
Quality: eBook
Pages count: 48
Description: In a new guide, “Lithium-ion Battery Fires: What We Know So Far”, the Maritime Professional Council
of the UK (MPC) warns of the rising risks and dangers of lithium-ion battery fires to ships, boats and
their crews.
The maritime industry faces increasing incidents of lithium-ion battery fires, particularly with the
growing use of electric vehicles (EVs) and a myriad of devices powered by these batteries. Lithiumion batteries have a high energy density, making them efficient but also prone to catastrophic
failures if mishandled.
The guide makes five key points regarding safety issues and implications:
1. Thermal runaway risks: understanding thermal runaway is critical as it leads to uncontrollable fires.
2. Firefighting challenges: traditional firefighting methods may be ineffective against lithium-ion
battery fires due to their unique characteristics.
3. Regulatory gaps: current regulations do not sufficiently address lithium-ion battery safety,
highlighting the need for updated guidelines.
4. Training deficiencies: crew members often lack training specific to lithium-ion battery risks,
increasing vulnerability to incidents.
5. Collaborative solutions: cooperation among stakeholders, including ship operators, maritime
regulators, and emergency responders, is vital for enhancing safety measures.
Reports indicate that battery-related fires are a significant and rising cause of marine insurance claims,
with an increase in incidents linked to lithium-ion technology
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