Superyachts and marine vessels

As a captain or chief engineer, ensuring the safety of your ship is your top priority. With more equipment onboard incorporating lithium batteries, the risks associated with these systems increase daily.

The potential for equipment failure is ever-present, and if something goes wrong with lithium batteries, being at sea means you’re often on your own. This is why specialized firefighting equipment is essential for handling these types of fires.

At Liiontek, we frequently encounter yachts, ferries, and other vessels equipped with a mix of electric and battery-powered systems. During operation or charging, there is a small but significant risk of catastrophic failure. When lithium-ion batteries are involved, the danger escalates. A thermal runaway—a chain reaction within lithium batteries—cannot be controlled with traditional fire extinguishers.

Most equipment is charged with minimal direct attention of the crew. Have you considered what could happen if a fire were to break out under these circumstances?

Here are four effective solutions:

1. Fisacon Charging Boxes
Our advanced Fisacon charging boxes offer a safe solution for charging small items like walkie-talkies and batteries, as well as larger components such as Seabobs. These boxes are designed with an integrated fire alarm and internal fire extinguishing system, ensuring maximum safety during charging and storage.

2. Fire-Resistant Blankets
For larger equipment, our specialized fire-resistant blankets can contain fires at the source. They are ideal for use when charging or storing items like electric bicycles, motorbikes, cars, or even lifting equipment, providing an easy and effective layer of protection.

3. Li-ion Tamer Gas Detection System
The Li-ion Tamer system detects early warning signs of thermal runaway by monitoring gas emissions from batteries. Upon detection, it automatically shuts down the charging process, preventing 95% of potential fires before they can start. This system is particularly suited for large battery banks, offering unmatched safety and prevention.

4. AI Thermal Cameras
Ensure constant monitoring of high-risk areas with our AI-powered thermal cameras. These cameras provide real-time alerts when temperatures rise beyond safe levels, allowing you to respond quickly and prevent dangerous situations.

There have been several incidents of vessels catching fire recently, affecting various ship types. Notable examples include container ships, RoRo ferries, and yachts. Fires on cargo ships are often caused by improperly declared hazardous materials, such as lithium batteries, making firefighting especially challenging due to the size and complexity of modern vessels.

In 2024 alone, 12 yachts were lost to fires in just the first half of the year. One of the most high-profile incidents involved the Felicity Ace, which sank in 2022 with 4,000 vehicles onboard, including luxury electric cars. The presence of lithium-ion batteries made the fire much more difficult to control.

Despite the increasing risk, classification societies (such as DNV, Lloyds, and ABS) have yet to implement comprehensive rules for lithium battery fires, as each type of equipment presents its own unique challenges. This continues to be a pressing issue in the search for the right solutions to mitigate risk.