MSF: Disposable vape self-ignition
- Safety Flash
- Published on 24 May 2023
- Generated on 17 August 2025
- IMCA SF 13/23
- 2 minute read
The Marine Safety Forum (MSF) has published Safety Alert 23-03 relating to an incident where an e-cigarette (“vape”) caused a small fire.
What happened?
A fire pre-alarm was raised on the bridge fire detection panel and accepted by the Duty Officer.
The Bridge immediately received a phone call from a crew member to say that there was an incident with a disposable vape in his cabin, but that there was no immediate danger.
On investigating the cabin, a slight smoke and smell of burning was noticed.
The crew member explained that the disposable vape self-ignited on the table at which he was sitting in the chair with laptop on his lap.
The crew member had immediately jumped up and tried to extinguish the burning vape with his hands, but realising it was hot, automatically threw it onto his bed where the vape continued to burn on the mattress.
He used two t-shirts to extinguish the fire.
What went wrong?
- The company Smoking Policy, which forbade the use of e-cigarettes, was not followed; the company mandated that these devices should not be taken onboard vessels.
- The bedding used by the crew member in the cabin was not standard company issue, and thus did not comply with IMO SOLAS regulations.
Actions
- Ensure compliance with company policy on smoking and vaping, and the non-use of e-cigarette devices.
- Closer attention to e-cigarette devices when carrying out ISPS checks on board.
- Ensure bedding onboard is compliant with IMO SOLAS regulations.
Related safety flashes
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IMCA SF 32/20
26 November 2020
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IMCA SF 18/18
23 August 2018
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IMCA SF 05/10
28 July 2010
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