Safety risks are constantly evolving and reshaping how operators manage the safety of their people and equipment. One growing concern that has impacted society but not yet fully integrated into maritime practice involves lithium-ion batteries and thermal runaway. While hybrid and fully electric vessels are being outfitted with large energy-storage systems that have commercial-grade mitigation procedures and safeguards, another thermal runaway risk has yet to come to the forefront of industry safety. That risk is the human element.
No matter what sector of the maritime industry, people remain central, vessel crew, passengers, and contractors alike. Today, almost every person who boards a vessel carries a lithium-ion battery in some form. It’s simply part of working, commuting, and traveling. Batteries power smartphones, tablets, portable chargers, e-cigarettes, and laptops. They have also expanded into e-bikes, scooters, and vehicles, all of which touch daily transportation and infrastructure. Any of these lithium-ion batteries has the potential to overheat and enter thermal runaway, causing fire, explosions, and catastrophic consequences.
So, what should operators do? The aviation industry has already begun shifting its approach to mitigating in-flight lithium-ion battery fires. Airlines have updated their pre-departure safety briefings, and it’s now common for passengers to hear instructions on what to do if a battery overheats and where to stow high-risk devices during the flight. Flight crews are also receiving training on recognizing the early signs of thermal runaway and are equipped with special containment bags and kits. The U.S. aviation industry reports roughly 100 thermal runaway incidents per year, a number that is trending upward.
While each industry is regulated differently and assesses its own risks independently, maritime operators have good reason to examine their own exposure and ensure their fleet is prepared for an emergency. In most cases, operators won’t know the condition of every battery that comes aboard. They won’t know its age, its origin, or whether the person carrying it understands the dangers of overheating. But the one thing they should know is that lithium-ion thermal runaway is a real and daily safety risk.
Don’t let the human element be the gap in your safety program.
