NTSB: Failure to disconnect and secure vehicle batteries led to fire

An electrical fault from an improperly disconnected battery in a used vehicle led to a fire aboard the vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen at Jacksonville, Fl., in June 2020. Nine firefighters were injured tackling the blaze, which took over a week to put out.  The vessel and its entire cargo (over two thousand used cars) were effectively destroyed.

• Many of the vehicles loaded had batteries that were not disconnected and secured in accordance with procedures, which increased the risk of electrical arcing and component faults. During loading operations, both the loading personnel and crew missed opportunities to address these hazards.
• Detection of the fire was delayed because the vessels’ fire detection systems had not yet been reactivated after loading was completed.
• The local fire department’s response to the accident was delayed because the Master did not immediately have available contact information for search and rescue authorities.
• The Master did not know how to report a fire to local authorities.

The NTSB determined the probable cause of the fire was ineffective oversight of the loading crew, which did not identify that the charterer’s vehicle battery securement procedures were not being followed.  This resulted in an electrical fault from an improperly disconnected battery in a used vehicle;

Contributing to the delay in the detection of the fire was the crew not immediately reactivating the vessel’s fire detection system after the completion of loading. Contributing to the extent of the fire was the Master’s decision to delay the release of the carbon dioxide fixed fire extinguishing system.