INSURERS TT Club and UK P&I Club have teamed up with scientific consultants Brookes Bell to issue a white paper highlighting the safety threat from the transportation of lithium-ion batteries, reports Singapore's Splash 247.
The white paper brings greater awareness to the danger of transporting lithium-ion batteries, especially by sea.
Furthermore, the white paper outlines the transport industry's challenges and the catastrophic situation caused by battery failure.
'Recently, serious and sometimes catastrophic incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have become more commonplace, with fires reported in all modes of transport - ocean, air, and land -- as well as in warehouses and where such consignments are at rest,' said TT Club risk management director Peregrine Storrs-Fox.
'The consequences of battery failure and the resultant thermal runaway must be clearly understood, and the correct procedures for handling them adhered to throughout their lifespan. The dangers can exist no matter the status of the battery; charged, semi-charged, used, second-hand or scrap, and whether present in devices and vehicles or packaged separately.'
It includes details of the background science behind lithium-ion batteries, the dangers associated with transporting them, and why they arise.
The paper also reviews current dangerous goods (DG) regulatory provisions, focusing on the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, with recommendations for change or further work.
Lastly, the final section discusses the current state of the firefighting provision and changes that could be implemented.
Said Brookes Bell managing scientist Karwei So: 'While increased industry awareness is crucial and technology to monitor and restrict fires is advancing, the increased capacities of batteries and the expected rise in trade volumes means regulations are potentially not fit for purpose, having been slow to catch up.'
SeaNews Turkey
The white paper brings greater awareness to the danger of transporting lithium-ion batteries, especially by sea.
Furthermore, the white paper outlines the transport industry's challenges and the catastrophic situation caused by battery failure.
'Recently, serious and sometimes catastrophic incidents involving lithium-ion batteries have become more commonplace, with fires reported in all modes of transport - ocean, air, and land -- as well as in warehouses and where such consignments are at rest,' said TT Club risk management director Peregrine Storrs-Fox.
'The consequences of battery failure and the resultant thermal runaway must be clearly understood, and the correct procedures for handling them adhered to throughout their lifespan. The dangers can exist no matter the status of the battery; charged, semi-charged, used, second-hand or scrap, and whether present in devices and vehicles or packaged separately.'
It includes details of the background science behind lithium-ion batteries, the dangers associated with transporting them, and why they arise.
The paper also reviews current dangerous goods (DG) regulatory provisions, focusing on the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, with recommendations for change or further work.
Lastly, the final section discusses the current state of the firefighting provision and changes that could be implemented.
Said Brookes Bell managing scientist Karwei So: 'While increased industry awareness is crucial and technology to monitor and restrict fires is advancing, the increased capacities of batteries and the expected rise in trade volumes means regulations are potentially not fit for purpose, having been slow to catch up.'
SeaNews Turkey