Posted on Jan 2, 2024
Cargo ship carrying burning lithium-ion batteries reaches Alaska, but kept offshore for safety
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A large cargo ship with a fire in its hold is being kept 2 miles (3.22 kilometers) offshore of an Alaska port as a precaution while efforts are undertaken to extinguish the flames, the U.S. Coast Guard said Saturday.
There were no injuries to the 19 crew members aboard the Genius Star XI, which was carrying a load of lithium-ion batteries across the Pacific Ocean, from Vietnam to San Diego, the guard’s Alaska district said in a release.
The fire started on Christmas Day in cargo hold No. 1, a spokesperson for ship owner Wisdom Marine Group said in a statement. The crew released carbon dioxide into the hold and sealed it over concerns of an explosion.
There were no injuries to the 19 crew members aboard the Genius Star XI, which was carrying a load of lithium-ion batteries across the Pacific Ocean, from Vietnam to San Diego, the guard’s Alaska district said in a release.
The fire started on Christmas Day in cargo hold No. 1, a spokesperson for ship owner Wisdom Marine Group said in a statement. The crew released carbon dioxide into the hold and sealed it over concerns of an explosion.
Cargo ship carrying burning lithium-ion batteries reaches Alaska, but kept offshore for safety
Posted from apnews.com
Shipping
Vehicle
Alaska
Edited 10 mo ago
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 6
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And do I want the vehicle that uses that battery in my garage...no thanks!
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Hmmmm, its on Fire and Lithium is hard to extinguish. Good idea to keep it in a safe place.
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Lt Col Mark Avery
What that infrared image shows is the engines and exhaust, not a fire. Doesn't mean there isn't one, just not in that image.
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That will be a hard task, you cannot use water to put out lithium as it reacts violently to water.
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Lt Col Mark Avery
Actually, water is the only approved method to put it out. For 1 car, 30,000 gallons. No idea what a shipload would take.
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SSG (Join to see)
Lt Col Mark Avery - I worked environmental for 14 years and that is not what the training states, CO2, dry powder several chemical types and for say just a small battery they make a special blanket to smother it. Adding water to lithium just creates more heat and a bigger reaction which can explode if it is big enough.
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