Sea Views
Sea Views podcast where we are floating the big issues in maritime safety. We talk with thought provoking experts and experienced practitioners in maritime. Every guest brings their own perspective on how to bring about change so that all seafarers will benefit from a safer and better life at sea.
Sea Views is supported by The CHIRP Charitable Trust and funded by The Seafarers' Charity.
Sea Views
Lithium Ion Battery Safety
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 here
The Seafarers' Charity
Improving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.
Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears
