Battery fire with subsequent gas explosion: Warning about lithium-ion power following ferry fire

  • Safety Flash
  • Published on 28 October 2019
  • Generated on 3 September 2025
  • IMCA SF 25/19
  • 2 minute read

The Norwegian Maritime Authority or Sjofartsdirektoratet has published an alert concerning a small fire that erupted in the battery room onboard the MF Ytterøyningen passenger ferry.

What happened?

Firefighting started and the ferry reached port under her own engine power. Passengers and crew were safely evacuated to land. In the morning of Friday 11 October, there was an explosion below deck, in or adjacent to the battery room.

The Norwegian Maritime Authority "recommends that all shipowners with vessels that have lithium-ion battery installations, carry out a new risk assessment of the dangers connected to possible accumulations of explosive gases during unwanted incidents in the battery systems.

It is extremely important that vessels are not operating without communication between the EMX (Energy management system) and the battery packs, as this may result in a breach in the transfer of important system data to the EMS/bridge. The sequence of events has not been established.

Clarification 18 October

The Norwegian Maritime Authority further wants to clarify the following items:

  • All shipowners using a battery system should carry out a risk assessment based on the recommendations of the updated safety message.

  • The risk assessment should cover the following:

    • the assessment should identify potential emergency shipboard situations, e.g. fire, flooding, collision, etc.

    • subsequently, the shipowner should establish procedures to respond to these events and establish programmes for drills and exercises to prepare for emergency situations.

This is in line with the requirements of the ISM code and is the shipowner’s responsibility.

The incident with the Ytterøyningen is still under investigation, and the cause has not been identified yet. There is nothing that indicates any issues regarding the above-mentioned risk assessment of this specific incident.”

Latest Safety Flashes:

UK HSE: Motion Compensated Gangways Auto-Retraction

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published Safety Notice ED03-2025

Read more
Brazil: diver permanently disabled after decompression illness

Conviction of diving company upheld as work accident suffered by a diver who lost strength in his upper limbs and the ability to move, requiring permanent use of a wheelchair.

Read more
Diver reports unwell post-dive: non-decompression illness

A diver experienced a dizzy spell about one hour after completing a diving operation

Read more
Shore-side crane boom collides with vessel mast

During shipyard lifting operations, the boom of a dock crane made contact with the vessel mast.

Read more
Injury sustained while operating steel lifting magnet

While preparing to transfer steel plates using a steel lifting magnet, a crew person was injured.

Read more

IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.

The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.

All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.

IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.

The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.

Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.