Real Life Incident: Bulk Carrier Carrying 160 Battery Units Suffers 2 Fires And $3.8 Million In Damage

A bulk carrier was underway with a cargo of lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) units and heat exchangers stowed in two cargo holds. Each BESS unit was secured with four polyester ratcheted lashing belts. These were hooked to D-rings that were held in place by brackets welded to the deck.

While transiting the North Pacific in heavy weather, the vessel rolled severely and shipped water over the hatches. The Master altered course to allow the crew on deck to check the cargo. They found that several BESS units on the tween deck of one hold had broken loose and shifted.

At around the same time, the chief officer saw black smoke coming from a manhole cover into the same hold that had just been opened. The alarm was sounded, and the crew mustered. Once the second hold was confirmed clear of fire, and the first hold’s ventilation secured and the space vacated, the Master ordered a full discharge of the fixed CO2 system into the affected hold. The fire was declared extinguished later that day, and the crew re-lashed the units that had shifted.

Three days later, again in heavy weather, a fire alarm sounded for the second cargo hold, and smoke was seen coming from its ventilation. With no CO2 remaining, the vessel’s course was altered to reduce rolling and pitching. Crew then sprayed the hold exterior with seawater for several hours until infrared checks confirmed the temperature was falling.

This story was originally published by Marine Insight. Read the full story at Marine Insight →