{"id":287677,"date":"2023-11-12T14:43:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-12T13:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=287677"},"modified":"2023-11-12T14:43:55","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T13:43:55","slug":"oil-tanker-fire-sparked-by-lithium-ion-battery-explosion-ntsb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=287677","title":{"rendered":"Oil Tanker Fire Sparked by Lithium-ion Battery Explosion -NTSB"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u200b\u200b\u200bNTSB highlights potential fire risks of lithium-ion batteries.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Thursday cited thermal runaway of a cell within a handheld radio\u2019s lithium-ion battery as the cause of a fire on an oil tanker docked in Baton Rouge, La.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Liberian-registered oil tanker S-Trust was docked at the Genesis Port Allen Terminal on November 13, 2022, when a fire on the bridge was sparked by one of the cells in a lithium-ion battery for an ultra-high-frequency handheld radio exploding, the NTSB’s investigation found. The batteries and chargers for the handheld radios were located on the communications table on the bridge, reports\u00a0 MarineLink<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time the vessel\u2019s crew extinguished the fire, the S-Trust\u2019s navigation, communication and alarm systems were damaged beyond use.\u00a0In total, the fire caused $3 million in damage to the vessel.\u00a0No injuries were reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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S-Trust at anchor following the casualty. (Source: U.S. Coast Guard, courtesy NTSB)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lithium-ion battery cell explosions are typically caused by a thermal runaway, a chemical reaction that can cause the cell to ignite and explode, according to the NTSB. A lithium-ion battery cell can spontaneously experience a thermal runaway if damaged, shorted, overheated, defective or overcharged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NTSB said crews can help to prevent thermal runaways and ensuing fires by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n