A cargo ship loaded with lithium-ion batteries has been burning for 5 straight days off the coast of Alaska. The Coast Guard is keeping the vessel anchored safely 2 miles out to sea while firefighters battle the stubborn blaze.
The ship, called the M/V Genius Star XI, first reported the fire on December 28th in a cargo hold full of batteries it was transporting from Vietnam to California. To stop an explosion, the crew pumped in carbon dioxide and sealed off the area.
All 19 crew members made it off safely. But almost a week later, the flames still aren’t fully out.
A team of maritime fire experts boarded the 410-foot ship to assess the situation. Luckily, they found no structural damage beyond the one hold. The ship’s systems remain operational so it can head to port if needed.
For now, the Coast Guard says keeping the Genius Star XI anchored in Broad Bay is the safest option. It reduces risks from the hazardous batteries. They’ve also set up an emergency towing system in case the ship loses power and starts drifting toward land.
Putting out a lithium battery blaze is tricky business. Using water can make things worse by reacting with the lithium. The batteries can also reignite if not completely extinguished.
You really need a specialty Class D extinguisher designed for metal fires. If those aren’t available, dry powder extinguishers are the next best option since they cut off oxygen supply to the flames.
The Coast Guard says they’ll wait for the fire to be fully suppressed before allowing the ship to dock at Dutch Harbor, one of America’s busiest fishing ports. Don’t want to risk any contamination from the burnt batteries and chemicals.
