NTSB: Lithium-ion battery fire destroys vessel bridge

This incident highlights some of the risks and hazards associated with modern battery technologies and is highlighted to members as a matter of importance requiring further attention and discussion. Members are encouraged to download and read the full report. 

A fire started on the bridge of an oil tanker whilst alongside.

Fire teams from the vessel extinguished the fire in less than half an hour after it had begun.

There were no injuries, but the damage caused to the vessel was estimated at US$3 million.

There was extensive smoke and heat damage, and the vessel’s navigation systems, communication systems, and alarm systems were destroyed.

The emergency response of the vessel crew, including the Master who discovered the fire, was prompt and correct, including

• shutting the doors on a discovered fire
  
  
• stopping all cargo operations
  
  
• raising the alarm
  
  
• isolating electrical power from the area on fire, and
  
  
• fighting the fire.

As the vessel was alongside, there was no bridge watch; no one was stationed on the bridge at the time the fire started.

The first indication crew members had of a possible fire aboard was the loss of the CCTV feed to the monitor in the Master’s office. Had the fire occurred while the vessel was underway, there would have been personnel on the bridge, and the fire would have been immediately detected.

The vessel’s bridge did not have a smoke or fire detection system (nor was it required to), which also allowed the fire to grow undetected.

The NTSB investigation determined that the probable cause was a “thermal runaway” of one of the cells in a lithium-ion battery for a UHF handheld radio on the communications table on the bridge.