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What happened?
After completing a transfer of work crew to a platform, a vessel exited the 500 metres zone to standby.
While in the standby zone, a portable power bank caught fire or exploded, setting a crew cabin on fire.
The fire was discovered by fire detectors and observed by crew.
It was extinguished within 50 minutes.
There was extensive damage to the crew cabin.
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Why did it happen?
Lack of awareness (and precautions) on hazards of common electronic devices.
The portable power bank was charging a mobile phone on the lower bunk, in contact with combustible materials – blankets and curtains.
Lithium-ion power banks will naturally get warm due to high currents flowing during charge and discharge cycles.
The power bank had been purchased 11 months prior and was of unknown make, quality and condition, factors known to contribute to malfunctions.
Electrical hazards in the cabin were not identified in the vessel’s risk assessment.
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What did they learn?
Provide guidance and signage for proper use of electronic devices.
Screen for power banks during check-in during offshore sailings (i.e. prohibition of power banks offshore).
Update the vessel’s risk assessment to cover common electrical devices.
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Ask yourself or your crew
What other actions could have been taken?
Did you know that batteries and power banks could cause fire?
How could something like this happen here? Why?
What actions can we take to prevent fires caused by common electrical items, like power banks?
What changes do we need to make to the work site or rules to prevent events like this?
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Published on 02/04/19
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While in the standby zone, a portable power bank caught fire or exploded, setting a crew cabin on fire. There was extensive damage to the crew cabin.
