Shipping vessel fire risks rising with lithium-ion battery demand
Lithium-ion battery fires don’t need oxygen to burn, making them difficult to extinguish and prone to reignition.
Demand for lithium-ion batteries is soaring on the back of sales for items ranging from smart devices to electric vehicles. A key component for the renewable energy sector as well, lithium-ion batteries are expected to see sales grow from $44.5 billion this year to more than $135 billion by 2031, according to market research.
While lithium-ion offers the highest energy density among rechargeable battery types, it also carries fire and explosion risks if incorrectly stored or handled, according to Allianz Global Corporate Specialty (AGCS). These risks become even more troublesome on cargo vessels, which already face difficulties in fighting blazes.
Making matters worse, lithium-ion batteries burn at intense temperatures and do not need oxygen as the blazes are chemical in nature. Since they self-oxidize, lithium-ion batteries can reignite days or even weeks after the first ignition, Allianz reports.
This comes as fires continue to be one of the biggest safety issues on shipping vessels, according to AGCS, which reported fires and explosions are the third top cause of shipping losses during the past decade.
“Currently, most ships lack suitable firefighting capabilities and early detection systems to tackle these fires at sea,” says Miguel Herrera, senior marine risk consultant at Allianz Risk Consulting.
While rail and trucking industries could see similar risks, land-based transportation sectors have a massive advantage when fighting lithium-ion fires, according to Herrera: Vastly superior firefighting resources and capabilities.
Explosions, thermal runaway, toxic gasses
In addition to their direct fire risks, lithium-ion batteries that are damaged, overcharged or subjected to high temperatures can exacerbate other risks, according to Captain Rahul Khanna, global head of marine risk consulting at AGCS. These include explosions from the release of ignitable vapors and gases in a confined space and thermal runway, which is a rapid, self-heating fire that can led to explosions.
Further, fires and explosions involving lithium-ion batters can produce toxic irritating, corrosive and poisonous gases.
“In most shipboard incidents a thermal runaway event can be a significant possibility unless immediate action is taken by the crew, such as suppressing a fire with copious amounts of water over a long period of time,” Khanna said in a release. “However, this can be extremely challenging due to factors such as early detection being difficult, a shortage of crew members on board, and if the vessel’s firefighting capabilities are inadequate.”
Herrera tells PropertyCasualty360.com it will take collaboration among manufacturers, carriers and regulators to establish best practices for designing and building EVs with lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, more needs to be done to enhance firefighting abilities aboard both current and new construction ships.
“Awareness and understanding of the risks of fires on EVs with Li-ion batteries by all members of the ocean marine supply chain are key elements to safe and successful transportation,” Herrera says.
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