Batteries on board are becoming more prevalent, and so are superyacht fires that can be tied to their misuse. VIRSEC’s ABS-approved online course aims to reduce these incidents by raising crew awareness.

VIRSEC, a UK-based e-learning company, launched a new online course this year titled “Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Awareness for Superyachts”. The course has been approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and designed by industry-leading experts. VIRSEC asserts that “this course addresses the urgent need for specialised training in the handling, charging, storage and fire safety of lithium-ion batteries, an area of increasing concern in the superyacht industry.”

Education on safe battery operation is essential as the use of lithium-ion batteries in on-board applications becomes more widespread. This increase in lithium-ion batteries on board has been linked to the rising number of fires on superyachts, a concern recognised by VIRSEC and many others in the industry. These incidents can be catastrophic, leading to potential loss of life, severe property damage, and environmental hazards. Lithium-ion battery fires can result from improper charging, storage and handling, underscoring the need for comprehensive safety training.

Within this course, participants will expand their knowledge on topics related to the safe use and storage of lithium-ion batteries on board. Topics include the basic electrochemical processes of lithium-ion batteries, battery abuse conditions and hazardous battery defects, requirements for battery stowage compartments and battery charging stations, as well as understanding the challenges of responding to a thermal runaway event and the suitability of different fire suppression systems. The course tailors this information to the superyacht industry to meet “the unique needs of the superyacht community, including owners, managers, captains, staff and crew”.

Other regulatory bodies have recognised the risk of these fires and have added new elements to The International Safety Management (ISM) Code and the Standards of Training, Certification, & Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention. These now mandate that crew members be properly trained in the handling and safety procedures of hazardous materials, including lithium-ion batteries. This course is compliant with these ISM Code and STCW Convention regulations.

In June last year, the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency released a marine guidance note on the safety and storage of small electric-powered craft on yachts. Amongst the recommendations was one suggesting charging operations be conducted only by competent persons, with the necessary skills and experience of the risks associated with lithium-ion battery charging. This course helps define the role and duties of this person when working with lithium-ion batteries, providing the knowledge required to safely conduct battery charging operations, identify hazardous or suspect batteries, and recognise the necessary steps to mitigate the risk until these batteries are removed from the yacht.

Having a more educated crew should work towards creating safer battery use, charging and storage on board, and so decrease the number of these incidents. A different subsequent benefit of having more safety-trained crew on board, as highlighted by VIRSEC, is that reducing the risk of these incidents on board could also lead to insurance underwriters looking favourably on vessels with crew who have undergone certified safety training, which could lead to reduced premiums.

It’s not only lithium-ion batteries which will require crew to be better trained in the safe handling and operation of them; many other alternative fuels and technologies also used in decarbonisation efforts will need additional safety measures to avoid the unique hazards that are associated with their implementation and operation onboard. It’s been noted by those across the wider maritime industry that there has been a gap in seafarer training in these alternative fuels and their adoption.

As such, this issue is likely to be reflected in the more niche superyacht industry as more alternative fuels are incorporated into new builds. This problem could be potentially exacerbated by the challenges faced in the industry of crew turnover and lack of retention onboard, requiring more training costs for those adopting these technologies on board.

As the adoption of more batteries on board and other similar decarbonisation technologies is implemented, it is key that regulations and crew training in their safe operation also match this pace to ensure the safety of the fleet. But also, smaller scale implementations such as the batteries in toys and tenders shouldn’t be overlooked, and their risk should be identified and mitigated through crew training as well.

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