SPECIAL REPORT

WILL BRUTON ON LITHIUM BATTERY SAFETY

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Lithium batteries are game-changing technology, but are they so sophisticated that they need special treatment? A recent guidance note issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency outlines key safety points for the installation of lithium batteries on yachts.

Resilient to heavy loads, longer lasting, smarter and, some would argue, cheaper over the long term; lithium battery technology is now becoming more mainstream on yachts. Used not only for house batteries, lithium also powers propulsion on some new models. Many cruisers now have capacity to live aboard a yacht in a similar way to a house, with far less power restriction.

The MCA recently issued a guidance note on lithium battery installation (MGN 550 – available online) to give a framework for best practice. While the advice leans towards commercially coded yachts, it highlights more general concern around lithium technology.

Since lithium has become more mainstream, there have been a number of fires on yachts, some causing a total loss. The note covers key aspects including installation process, system design, ventilation and cooling – all potential vulnerabilities of a lithium system. The message overall is that a lithium installation, whether retrofit or on a new build yacht, should be taken seriously.

GETTING IT RIGHT

At present, the only type of lithium batteries approved for installation on yachts are Lithium-Ion-Phosphate or LFP. Whilst it might be tempting to use cheaper lithium varieties such as nickel or cobalt, these are far more vulnerable to thermal runaway – an uncontrolled series of reactions which cause a rapid increase in temperature, and often an uncontrolled fire.