Lithium Ion Battery Safety
03/14/25 • 41 min
In this episode, Adam and I, welcome the leading expert on lithium ion battery safety Professor Paul Christensen to talk about the increasingly topical issue of managing the risks of lithium ion batteries in the maritime and port environment.
Lithium ion batteries have quickly become part of life now in electric vehicles and e scooters for example. On dry land in the UK, Fire services are dealing with one lithium ion battery fire/explosion every day. Thankfully, explosions and fire from malfunctioning lithium ion batteries is not a common problem but the hazard and severity of the incidents is great. At sea we have seen the catastrophic fires on MV Fremantle Highway and Felicity Ace.
Paul explains the difference between traditional combustion fires and lithium ion battery incidents and we dive into the science behind thermal runaway, vapour cloud explosion and fire.
NEW FINDINGS ON DANGERS OF VAPOUR CLOUD INHALATION
Paul’s very recent field trials in February 2025, have discovered new information about harmful molecules in the vapour cloud which appear to be causing more severe inhalation injuries for people than traditional smoke inhalation.
FIREFIGHTING & SOLUTIONS
Paul’s work involves real world field trials and testing to try to find solutions or better manage the risks but lithium ion battery fires are not extinguished with any of the traditional methods of firefighting which use liquids or remove oxygen. This presents significant difficulties when tackling this type of fire on a ship at sea with great risk to seafarers who have previously been trained to deal with combustion type fires.
This episode of Sea Views is supported and funded by CHIRP and The Seafarers’ Charity:
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears
In this episode, Adam and I, welcome the leading expert on lithium ion battery safety Professor Paul Christensen to talk about the increasingly topical issue of managing the risks of lithium ion batteries in the maritime and port environment.
Lithium ion batteries have quickly become part of life now in electric vehicles and e scooters for example. On dry land in the UK, Fire services are dealing with one lithium ion battery fire/explosion every day. Thankfully, explosions and fire from malfunctioning lithium ion batteries is not a common problem but the hazard and severity of the incidents is great. At sea we have seen the catastrophic fires on MV Fremantle Highway and Felicity Ace.
Paul explains the difference between traditional combustion fires and lithium ion battery incidents and we dive into the science behind thermal runaway, vapour cloud explosion and fire.
NEW FINDINGS ON DANGERS OF VAPOUR CLOUD INHALATION
Paul’s very recent field trials in February 2025, have discovered new information about harmful molecules in the vapour cloud which appear to be causing more severe inhalation injuries for people than traditional smoke inhalation.
FIREFIGHTING & SOLUTIONS
Paul’s work involves real world field trials and testing to try to find solutions or better manage the risks but lithium ion battery fires are not extinguished with any of the traditional methods of firefighting which use liquids or remove oxygen. This presents significant difficulties when tackling this type of fire on a ship at sea with great risk to seafarers who have previously been trained to deal with combustion type fires.
This episode of Sea Views is supported and funded by CHIRP and The Seafarers’ Charity:
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime here
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears
Previous Episode
Safe at Sea… it takes all of us!
Sea Views is kicking off the new year with a look at the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network’s (ISWAN) new global campaign:
‘Safe at Sea...it takes all of us!’, with a focus on the role that male seafarers can take as allies in support of their women colleagues.
Women seafarers are more than three times as likely to contact ISWAN’s helplines about an issue of abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and/or violence than men seafarers. They are also more than twice as likely to raise a mental health issue.
Georgia Allen, Projects and Relationships Manager at ISWAN who led on the development of the campaign said,
“The concept of allyship is a fantastic one with the onus on those around you to pay more attention, give more support, ultimately bringing the crew together as a whole and helping to lift everyone to make a psychologically safe environment on board”
Sophia Grant joins the Sea Views podcast from the UK P&I Club, with 30 years experience in maritime and shares her perspective on changing industry attitudes to recognising mental health and psychological safety as part of the safety culture on board ships now.
ISWAN’s Safe at Sea... it takes all of us! campaign is funded by The Seafarers’ Charity and The UK P&I Club.
Let’s hope that 2025 brings positive changes for seafarers.
Resources and support:
Link to guides on How to Be An Ally
Link to ISWAN web site SAFE At SEA
ISWAN SEAFARER HELP Service
ISWAN YACHT CREW HELP Service
Research by Cardiff University’s Seafarers International Research Centre Port Based Welfare Needs Of Women Working on Cargo Ships
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this podcast you can contact these charities for support:
SAFER WAVES For confidential support, email trained volunteers at: [email protected]
SALUTE HER UK If you need help please contact Paula on Mobile: 07861748522 or via the website: www.saluteher.co.uk
CHIRP
Improving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.
Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears
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