Unsecured Vehicle Batteries Ignited Fire – NTSB

• Faulty disconnect in a vehicle battery caused a damaging fire on Höegh Xiamen, injuring firefighters.
• Insecure batteries in loaded vehicles heightened the risk of electrical faults, overlooked during loading.
• Slow reactivation of fire detection systems and a lack of immediate contact info hampered timely response from the local fire department.
• NTSB cites inadequate oversight by the loading crew, neglecting proper vehicle battery procedures.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States has released a report on a fire incident that occurred on a vehicle carrier, resulting in $40 million in damages. Although the incident did not take place on a vessel engaged in marine construction, the lessons learned have relevance to the operations of IMCA members.

What transpired?

In June 2020, an electrical fault stemming from an improperly disconnected battery in a used vehicle triggered a fire on the vehicle carrier Höegh Xiamen in Jacksonville, Florida. The blaze, which took over a week to extinguish, caused significant damage, leading to the destruction of the vessel and its entire cargo—comprising over two thousand used cars. Nine firefighters sustained injuries while combating the fire.

What went awry?

Several vehicles on board had batteries that were not disconnected and secured following proper procedures, elevating the risk of electrical arcing and component faults. Both loading personnel and the crew missed opportunities to address these hazards during loading operations. The detection of the fire was delayed because the vessel’s fire detection systems were not reactivated promptly after the loading was completed. The Master’s lack of immediate access to contact information for search and rescue authorities resulted in a delayed response from the local fire department. Additionally, the Master was unaware of the proper procedure for reporting a fire to local authorities.

Root cause identified

The NTSB attributed the fire to ineffective oversight of the loading crew, which failed to recognize that the charterer’s vehicle battery securement procedures were not being followed. This lapse resulted in an electrical fault from an improperly disconnected battery in a used vehicle. Contributing to the detection delay was the crew’s failure to promptly reactivate the vessel’s fire detection system after loading. The Master’s decision to delay the release of the carbon dioxide fixed fire extinguishing system further exacerbated the extent of the fire.

Recommended actions

1. Enhanced oversight and training for personnel involved in loading and handling batteries and potentially hazardous cargo.
2. Revision of procedures for reactivating fire detection systems post-loading.
3. Ensuring immediate availability of emergency contact information for bridge teams.

These measures aim to prevent similar incidents and improve overall safety protocols in similar operations.

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Source: IMCA

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