The Devastating Impact of a Handheld Radio on a Ship’s Bridge

Lithium-ion batteries have caused significant damage to ships, including car carriers and containerships. Even small batteries used to power handheld radios can cause millions of dollars in damage. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the US recently issued a report on a fire that occurred on the bridge of the crude tanker S-Trust, attributing the fire to the thermal runaway of a lithium-ion battery for a UHF handheld radio.

The S-Trust was equipped with 20 ultra-high frequency (UHF) handheld radios, two of which were on the bridge – one using a lithium-ion battery and the other using a nickel-metal hydride battery. Investigators found remains of three batteries on the communications table, including one nickel-metal hydride and two lithium-ion batteries. The fire was likely caused by a thermal runaway of one of the lithium-ion cells, leading to an explosion and subsequent fire.

To prevent thermal runaways and fires, the NTSB recommends following manufacturers’ instructions for battery care, proper disposal of damaged batteries, avoiding unsupervised charging, and keeping batteries and chargers away from heat sources and flammable materials. In the event of a lithium-ion battery fire, crews should attempt to extinguish the fire with water, foam, CO2, or other agents. However, if the fire cannot be extinguished, personnel should allow the pack to burn in a controlled manner.

The dangers of carrying lithium-ion batteries on ships were highlighted in a report by Allianz Global Corporate & Speciality, which ranked fire and explosion as the top cause of marine insurance losses from 2017 to 2021. The report also emphasized the growing threat of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that are not stored, handled, or transported correctly.

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