Page 10: of Marine News Magazine (July 2026)

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Risk Mitigation

Batteries

Managing Emerging Risks in

Battery-Related Marine Fires:

A Practical Perspective on Investigation and Subrogation

By Diane Spinner, District Manager, EFI Global

As lithium-ion batteries continue to make their way into RDC], 2025).

the marine space whether through vessel systems, trans- From a practical standpoint, that changes how these ported electric vehicles, or everyday devices onboard we losses need to be approached from the beginning.

are starting to see a different type of ? re loss than most of us have traditionally dealt with.

Where the Risk Is Emerging

These events are not necessarily more frequent, but Battery-related ? re risks are showing up across several when they occur, they tend to be severe. In many cases, areas of the marine industry: they result in prolonged ? res or even total loss of a vessel •Hybrid and electric propulsion systems or cargo. That aligns with broader industry ? ndings that •Electric vehicles transported on car carriers ? res remain one of the costliest drivers of marine insurance •Energy storage systems onboard losses, particularly when lithium-ion batteries are involved •Consumer lithium-ion devices stored or (Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty [AGCS], 2022). charging onboard vessels

At the center of many of these incidents is thermal run- The common factor is the high energy density of these away. Once initiated, it becomes a self-sustaining reaction systems. When failures occur whether from physical damage, that is dif? cult to control. The ? re can escalate quickly, improper charging, or internal defects, they can develop into producing extreme heat and ? ammable gases, especially ? res that are dif? cult to suppress and capable of rapid spread.

in con? ned spaces typical of marine environments (U.S. Recent incidents involving vessels carrying electric vehi-

Coast Guard Research and Development Center [USCG cles or battery systems highlight how quickly these events can escalate into total losses (International Maritime Res- cue Federation [IMRF], 2025). These ? res do not behave like conventional fuel-based ? res and often require differ- ent suppression and response strategies.

What This Means for Investigations

From an investigative standpoint, one of the most im- mediate challenges is scene condition.

Battery-related ? res frequently destroy the area of origin.

By the time investigators gain access, suppression efforts, heat damage, and environmental exposure have signi? - cantly altered or eliminated key evidence.

As a result, origin and cause determinations often re- quire a broader analytical approach: •Reviewing system design and installation © mino21/AdobeStock 10 | MN July 2026