The Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB) has revealed an investigation report into an incident the place a cargo vessel suffered two cargo-hold fires involving lithium-ion battery models within the North Pacific in late December 2023.
What occurred?
On December 25, 2023, at 0830, whereas the cargo vessel Genius Star XI was transiting the North Pacific Ocean in heavy climate with a cargo of lithium-ion battery vitality storage system models on board, a fireplace was found in a cargo maintain. Crew discharged the vessel’s mounted fuel (carbon dioxide) hearth extinguishing system into the maintain, and the vessel proceeded to the closest port, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, for help. On December 28, about 0215, whereas the vessel was en path to Dutch Harbor, a fireplace began in a second cargo maintain. The crew externally cooled the cargo maintain utilizing hearth hoses, and, after the vessel anchored in Dutch Harbor on December 29, the fireplace was decided to be extinguished. There have been no accidents, and no air pollution was reported. Injury from each fires was estimated at $3.8 million.
Possible trigger
The possible explanation for the 2 (December 25 and Dember 28, 2023) fires aboard the Genius Star XI was the breakaway of 41 battery vitality storage methods (BESS) models within the cargo holds throughout heavy climate circumstances as a consequence of improperly secured lashing belts, which resulted in inside structural deformation of those models and thermal runaway of lithium-ion battery packs in three of the BESS models.
Classes Discovered
Making certain Correct Cargo Securing
Along with following a vessel’s cargo securing guide and implementing the permitted vessel storage and lashing plan, a vessel’s crew should additionally conduct an intensive inspection of all of the cargo-securing preparations each throughout and after cargo loading. Such inspections are vital to figuring out improper attachments or different considerations with cargo securement that would compromise the assumptions planners make in implementation of the plan. Not making certain cargo is correctly secured may end up in cargo breakaway. Particular consideration ought to be positioned on analyzing fitment of elements, resembling lashing belt hooks, wire, or chain falls used to safe the cargo to make sure they’re correctly seated (absolutely engaged) on the D-rings or different factors of securement.
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Supply: NTSB
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