Walkie-Talkie Lithium Battery Fire Destroys 50,000-Ton Oil Tanker's Bridge, $3 Million Loss

On November 9, 2023, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released an investigative report on the fire incident aboard the oil tanker "S-Trust" that occurred on November 13, 2022.

The fire broke out in the ship's bridge while docked at the Baton Rouge Genesis Port Allen Terminal in Louisiana at around 3:30 PM local time. Thankfully, there were no casualties or pollution, but the bridge was severely damaged, including the navigation, communication, and alarm systems, resulting in an estimated loss of $3 million.

The investigation revealed that at around 3:27 PM, a video recorded an orange flash at the communication station, followed by smoke. Handheld radio batteries and chargers were stored in this area.

A second orange flash occurred in the same area at 3:29 PM, after which an object caught fire and fell to the ground, continuing to burn. Seven minutes later, the fire intensified, rendering the camera inoperable.

Post-incident, investigators found remains of three batteries in the area - one nickel-metal hydride and two lithium batteries. Although the core of the nickel-metal hydride and one lithium battery was recovered, the core of the other lithium battery was not found.

Lithium-ion battery explosions are often caused by thermal runaway, a chemical reaction leading to fires and explosions. Damage, short circuits, overheating, defects, or overcharging can trigger thermal runaway, producing temperatures exceeding 1100°F and igniting nearby combustible materials.

Investigators concluded that the fire was likely caused by thermal runaway of the missing lithium battery. However, without inspecting the lost exploded battery core, the exact cause of the initial thermal runaway remains undetermined.

The NTSB highlights the potential risks of lithium batteries on ships, advising: 1) adherence to manufacturer maintenance and care instructions; 2) proper handling of damaged batteries; 3) avoiding charging in unsupervised environments; 4) keeping batteries and chargers away from heat sources and flammable materials. In case of a lithium battery fire, water, foam, carbon dioxide, or other dry powder extinguishers for Class A fires can be used. If a battery fire is uncontrollable, let it burn in a controlled manner, monitor nearby batteries for thermal runaway, and remove any flammable materials.

Background Information:

• S-Trust Tanker: Built in 2005, flying the Liberian flag, owned by New Trend, and managed by Stalwart Management.

Source: National Transportation Safety Board.