IIMS UAE CONFERENCE 2017

Posted on January 19, 2017October 26, 2017 by IIMS UAE Branch Administration

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Lithium-ion battery fires: What we know so far

Surge in EV transportation exposes gaps in maritime safety rules procurement

[caption id="attachment_57795" align="alignright" width="385"] Surge in EV transportation exposes gaps in maritime safety rules procurement[/caption]

Industry experts have said the rapid rise in EV (electric Vehicle) transportation exposes gaps in maritime safety rules, says Steam Marine Technical.

High-profile shipboard fires involving EVs, such as those on the Felicity Ace, Morning Midas and the Freemantle Highway, have highlighted the dangers and significant risks. While lithium-ion battery fires and thermal runaway events aren’t always the initial cause, they significantly escalate onboard fires when EVs are involved, yet current International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations don’t adequately address this risk. Whilst the IMO develops updated guidelines, comprehensive regulations specific to EV transport aren’t expected until at least 2028.

In the meantime, shipping companies are moving ahead on their own. Many are installing specialised fire suppression systems, boosting crew training, and working collaboratively to share best practices.

At a recent seminar hosted by Stream Marine Technical, John Garner, Managing Director of JG Maritime Solutions and Chairman of the Interferry Regulatory Committee said, “The challenge lies in bridging the gap through proactive compliance, operational readiness, and crew competency. We’re seeing companies take the initiative, but it shouldn’t take a decade for regulations to catch up.”

As EV transport reshapes maritime operations, operators are pushing for faster and more productive coordination between regulators, vessel owners, and manufacturers. Stuart Reid, Marine Superintendent at Serco Northlink Ferries said, “For us, it starts at booking. We screen EVs, flag them for our teams, and invest in the right tools and training. Sharing what we learn with other operators has become standard because guidance from the top is still evolving.”

Until new standards are in place, collaboration and knowledge-sharing are the front line of defence. Panellists emphasised that this is more than a compliance issue, it’s a shared responsibility.

“Training is absolutely key,” said Craig Smith, Expert Consultant and Instructor at Stream Marine Technical. “Crews need to spot early signs of battery fires and use the latest suppression technology. There’s no silver bullet, but scenario-based drills and new procedures are already making a real impact.”

With regulation lagging behind technology, the message from experts is clear: stay alert, stay prepared, and help shape the future of maritime safety before the next crisis hits.

The post Surge in EV transportation exposes gaps in maritime safety rules procurement appeared first on The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).

MTF issues guidelines on alternative qualitative fuel risk assessments

[caption id="attachment_57798" align="alignright" width="385"] MTF issues guidelines on alternative qualitative fuel risk assessments[/caption]

The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has revealed new guidelines for conducting alternative qualitative fuel risk assessments for alternative fuelled ships: HAZID and HAZOP.

The use of alternative fuels will be key to addressing the 2023 IMO Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships. While IMO has developed guidelines for design and operation of ships capable of using them, the Alternative Design and Approval process is required for most alternative fuels until mandatory regulations are in place. And this dictates using qualitative risk assessment to document an equivalent level of safety compared with a vessel designed to operate with conventional fuels.

Existing guidelines, such as MSC.1/Circ.1455 and IACS Rec. 146, remain valuable references to the general process for handling alternative design, independent of technology.

With the industry’s expanding adoption of alternative fuels and lessons learned from recent projects, MTF considered that there is a need to make a supplement to these documents to cover a wider range of fuels and technologies.

The new MTF report provides guidelines for conducting qualitative risk assessments as a core component of the approval process for alternative-fuelled ships. This addresses both HAZID and HAZOP studies, detailing qualification requirements for personnel involved and outlining the procedural steps involved. The guidelines also specify required input documents, reporting requirements and risk criteria. The guidelines support the identification of potential hazardous events and the development of preventive and mitigative safeguards to manage risks associated with the use of alternative fuels.

The post MTF issues guidelines on alternative qualitative fuel risk assessments appeared first on The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).

NTSB: loose wire on containership Dali led to Scott Key Bridge collision

[caption id="attachment_51423" align="alignright" width="385"] The containership Dali with portions of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge across its forward deck. (Source: NTSB)[/caption]

The US National Transportation Safety Board said a single loose wire on the Dali containership caused an electrical blackout that led to the vessel hitting the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which then collapsed, killing six highway workers.

At a public meeting, investigators said the loose wire in the ship’s electrical system caused a breaker to unexpectedly open - beginning a sequence of events that led to two vessel blackouts and a loss of both propulsion and steering near the 2.37-mile-long Key Bridge on March 26, 2024. Investigators found that wire-label banding prevented the wire from being fully inserted into a terminal block spring-clamp gate, causing an inadequate connection.

[caption id="attachment_57846" align="aligncenter" width="385"] Illustration showing how placement of wire-label banding affects the way wires are seated in their terminal blocks. (Source: NTSB)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_57847" align="aligncenter" width="385"] Illustration showing how placement of wire-label banding affects the way wires are seated in their terminal blocks. (Source: NTSB)[/caption]

fter the initial blackout, the Dali’s heading began swinging to starboard toward Pier 17 of the Key Bridge. Investigators found that the pilots and the bridge team attempted to change the vessel’s trajectory, but the loss of propulsion so close to the bridge rendered their actions ineffective. A substantial portion of the bridge subsequently collapsed into the river, and portions of the pier, deck and truss spans collapsed onto the vessel’s bow and forwardmost container bays.

A seven-person road maintenance crew and one inspector were on the bridge when the vessel struck. Six of the highway workers died. The NTSB found that the quick actions of the Dali pilots, shoreside dispatchers and the Maryland Transportation Authority to stop bridge traffic prevented greater loss of life.

“Our investigators routinely accomplish the impossible, and this investigation is no different,’ said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. “The Dali, at almost 1,000 feet, is as long as the Eiffel Tower is high, with miles of wiring and thousands of electrical connections. Finding this single wire was like hunting for a loose rivet on the Eiffel Tower.

“But like all of the accidents we investigate,this was preventable,” Homendy said. “Implementing NTSB recommendations in this investigation will prevent similar tragedies in the future.”

Contributing to the collapse of the Key Bridge and the loss of life was the lack of countermeasures to reduce the bridge’s vulnerability to collapse due to impact by ocean-going vessels, which have only grown larger since the Key Bridge’s opening in 1977. When the Japan-flagged containership Blue Nagoya contacted the Key Bridge after losing propulsion in 1980, the 390-foot-long vessel caused only minor damage. The Dali, however, is 10 times the size of the Blue Nagoya.

[caption id="attachment_57848" align="aligncenter" width="385"] The comparative sizes of the Blue Nagoya and the Dali relative to the Key Bridge. Source: NTSB[/caption]

As part of the investigation, the NTSB in March released an initial report on the vulnerability of bridges nationwide to large vessel strikes. The report found that the Maryland Transportation Authority—and many other owners of bridges spanning navigable waterways used by ocean-going vessels—were likely unaware of the potential risk that a vessel collision could pose to their structures. This was despite longstanding guidance from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials recommending that bridge owners perform these assessments.

The NTSB sent letters to 30 bridge owners identified in the report, urging them to evaluate their bridges and, if needed, develop plans to reduce risks. All recipients have since responded, and the status of each recommendation is available on the NTSB’s website.

As a result of the investigation, the NTSB issued new safety recommendations to the US Coast Guard; US Federal Highway Administration; the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; the Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK); the American National Standards Institute; the American National Standards Institute Accredited Standards Committee on Safety in Construction and Demolitions Operations A10; HD Hyundai Heavy Industries; Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd; and WAGO Corporation, the electrical component manufacturer; and multiple bridge owners across the nation.

The post NTSB: loose wire on containership Dali led to Scott Key Bridge collision appeared first on The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).

MCA published its new Sport or Pleasure Code

Safety and innovation are at the heart of updated regulations for small commercial vessels used for sport or pleasure that was laid before Parliament on 20 November 2025 with application to be phased in from 12 December 2025 by the...

The post MCA published its new Sport or Pleasure Code appeared first on The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).

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IIMS UAE CONFERENCE 2017

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IIMS UAE Branch Annual General meeting agenda

IIMS Seminar: How to comply with changing shipping regulations through cargo protection engineering – Sunday 30th September 2018

Surge in EV transportation exposes gaps in maritime safety rules procurement

MTF issues guidelines on alternative qualitative fuel risk assessments

NTSB: loose wire on containership Dali led to Scott Key Bridge collision

MCA published its new Sport or Pleasure Code

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