With over 1,000 spontaneous lithium battery fires reported each week, it’s crucial for all yacht owners to make informed decisions about lithium battery storage. 

Lithium-ion batteries can cause fires or explosions due to thermal runaway. Thermal runaway occurs when a lithium-ion battery cell creates more heat than it can effectively disperse 

Lithium-ion batteries can start fires :

                      When they are overcharged,

                      The incorrect charger is used,

                      The device or battery has been damaged,

                      There is a system fault or product defect. 

The liquid electrolyte containing these lithium ions is highly volatile and flammable, which creates a serious risk of fire or explosion

To prevent lithium-ion battery overheating, consider the following safety measures:

1. Monitor Charging Temperatures:

   • Charge batteries within safe temperature ranges.
   • Use chargers specifically designed for lithium-ion batteries with built-in temperature monitoring.

2. Avoid Overcharging:

   • Be cautious about leaving devices plugged in after reaching full charge to prevent excessive heat buildup.

3. Cooling Provisions:

   • Implement cooling mechanisms such as fans or heat sinks to dissipate excess heat from the battery pack.
   • Link cooling provisions to a Battery Management System (BMS) to reduce battery pack temperature if it gets too hot.
   • Ensure proper monitoring of the BMS to prevent indirect failure of the lithium-ion batteries.

4. Insulation and Thermal Management:

   • Use insulation materials to protect batteries from extreme temperatures.
   • Optimize thermal management systems to prevent thermal runaway and ignition of fire.

Remember that proper education, storage, and recycling of lithium-ion batteries are crucial for safety. Let’s keep our energy storage technology secure and reliable.

For more information contact:

European Marine Services Ltd

Marine Surveyors & Consultants | ADR & Mediation  |  Expert Witness 
www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: (44) 01603 327 123

Danger – No Carbon Monoxide Alarm fitted

EMS – Always strongly recommend the fitting of a CO Alarm

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published its findings regarding the loss of two lives on a motor cruiser.

The bodies of two men were discovered in the cabin of the privately owned motor cruiser Diversion, which was moored to a quay in the centre of York, England in December 2019.

The boat owner and his friend had spent the previous evening in the city centre socialising with former work colleagues and were spending the night on board. But both men died as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning. The carbon monoxide had leaked into the cabin from the boat’s diesel-fuelled cabin heater exhaust.

MAIB says it found that the cabin heater’s exhaust silencer was not designed for marine use: its connection to the exhaust pipe system was not gas tight, the installation had not been checked by a professional heater installer, and it had not been serviced.

The cabin ventilation system did not meet the requirements of the Boat Safety Scheme and this might have increased the rate at which the carbon monoxide accumulated in the boat’s cabin space, says MAIB.

The report says three men motored on the boat for a four-mile trip upriver to York city centre, where they had arranged to attend a pre-Christmas social gathering with former work colleagues.

They left the marina at about 12:30pm for York, where the owner and one of his friends, both retired power station engineers, planned to sleep on board Diversion overnight.

The three men went ashore, and spent the afternoon drinking and socialising with their former colleagues in several city centre pubs. One of the men later went home by train.

The owner and his other friend had a meal with some of the group then returned to Diversion.

At about midday on the following day, the families of the owner and his friend became concerned that they had not heard from either man.

They made several telephone calls to try to locate them, but without success, and later in the afternoon they reported their concerns to the police.

A police officer was dispatched to the quayside and confirmed that the boat was still moored there, and that its accommodation was in darkness and no one appeared to be on board.

The officer was then instructed to continue on patrol.

With no further contact from the two men, the families contacted the police once again to express their increasing concern.

At about 20:00, another police officer boarded Diversion and found the main cabin door unlocked, with all lights switched off.

The police officer entered the boat and found the bodies of the owner and his friend in the forward cabin bunk space; one was lying on the floor, the other was seated on the forward cabin entrance steps, and it was apparent that they had prepared themselves to go to bed.

Diversion was towed back to York Marina on 7 December 2019, where it was secured by the police.

On 9 December post-mortems were carried out, which found that the primary cause of death for both men was carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning; both also had caffeine and alcohol in their system.

As a result of the investigation’s initial findings, MAIB previously issued a safety bulletin, which has since been referenced in Boat Safety Scheme publications and was featured in the 2020 Carbon Monoxide awareness week.

European Marine when undertaking Pre Purchase Surveys & Marine Surveys always check the fire extinguishers installed on all craft – We strongly recommend the installation of auto extinguishers in engine spaces

It is quite common to find that many many vessels have NO auto fire extinguishes permanently installed in their engine spaces etc.  In fact in many small sail boats (per fire boat as below) it is necessary for a crew member to first locate an extinguisher (in the panic and heat of the moment) and then to open a small flap located in the engine hatch and insert the fire extinguisher nozzle and pull the trigger – in the event of a fire !

GRP burns very very quickly and first action must be the safety of life

Time is of Essence – It is not best practice and not recommended to attempt to extinguish as above – Fit Automatic Extinguishers

The cost of auto extinguishers is minimal (approx £50) when compared to the loss of human life

Four people including two children have been rescued from a burning yacht at Conwy Harbour.

The yacht crew had noticed smoke coming from the engine space hatch. After attempting to extinguish it using fire extinguishers, the fire escalated out of control.

The crew raised the alarm and were assisted off the vessel shortly after.

HM Coastguard says the crew managed to escape unharmed with the help of two other yachts in the area and are safe and well.

But, says the RNLI, there was an Easterly breeze, coupled with an incoming flood tide, which subsequently carried the yacht upriver, in the direction of the town quay. Conwy lifeboat stood by, monitored the situation and updated the UK Coastguard as appropriate.

Plumes of thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky.

With the fire well established, the vessel drifted onto a pontoon opposite the quay wall and was held against another smaller vessel which also caught fire. Given the billowing smoke, the decision was made to close off the quay.

The Harbour Office’s barge, under command of the Harbour Master, successfully assisted the fire service with transporting firefighters and equipment to help successfully extinguish the fire.

Unfortunately whilst the casualty vessel was being relocated towards the shoreside, it succumbed to its damage, and sank. The secondary yacht which had caught fire was successfully moved to the foreshore, so as to assist the fire service in ascertaining whether the fire was fully extinguished.

A spokesman for the HM Coastguard, told the Daily Post: “At 1.35pm we had a mayday call from a yacht called Osprey, who reported they were next to a yacht on fire.

“They were getting the people from their yacht onto their own and they were assisted by another yacht called Freedom in doing so.

“That was very quick and extremely brave of them – the vessel was quite significantly on fire when they made the call to us.

“They were all very lucky and I have to say my gratitude to those two yachts that rescued them so quickly.

“They really did make a positive contribution to the whole incident and did a sterling job.”

The Coastguard says after the alarm was raised, it broadcast to other vessels in the area to stay clear due to the “significant explosion risk.”

Land units from Llandundo and a lifeboat from Conwy were launched – primarily to work out where the drifting yacht was going to end up.

“In that part of the Conwy river, there’s a strong tidal current and because the tide was coming in, it was pushing the yacht up river, past the marina and down towards the bridge and the town,” the spokesman told the Daily Post.

“In the time it took for the yacht to get there, the gas cylinder did explode and launched itself quite high into the air, which was fairly alarming for everybody.

“But ultimately, because nobody was at risk, other than where this thing was going to land, we decided to let it get stuck somewhere and deal with it then, rather than try and catch it and become stuck to it when an explosion happened.”

Acknowledgement to Marine Industry News

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd. 

     Marine Surveyors & Consultants | ADR Mediation  |  Expert Witness 
www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: (44) 01603 327 123

An experienced Gas Safe Operative required to undertake a GAS AUDIT project on hire / charter boats in the South of France

” Opportunity for Gas Safe Operative “

Initially undertaking a hire fleet Gas Audit at some five locations in the South of France, then inspecting further hire fleets on a location by location basis throughout France.

Pre-requisite to have experience of hire fleet LPG systems and installations

This is a short term project expected to take up to 1 – 2  months, but not necessarily on a continuous basis

Please send by email details of qualifications & experience to:

[email protected]

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd. Marine Surveyors & Consultants
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections
www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: (44) 01603 327 123

As meteorologists warn an ‘El Nino’ event is likely to cause widespread snow events and ice storms from early December onwards, European Marine Services is calling for boat owners to prepare for winter weather.

‘El Nino’ occurs when the sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean is warmer than average, prompting floods in tropical areas and colder winters in the UK.

Heavy rain, flooding, winds, ice and snow can all cause problems for vessels: they could be swept away, blown off course, take on water, sink or suffer a hull breach.  And with nearly one in three of call-outs is due to a lack of general maintenance, we fear ‘neglected’ boats will be put at risk.

Some simple precautions, however, can reduce the likelihood of winter damage.  When a weather event does strike, it’s time to get into a routine of visiting the boat regularly and undertake the following;

• Check the batteries are fully charged, with a bilge pump in continuous operation even a fully charged battery will only last a few days.
• Check bilge pumps are fully operational and left on ‘automatic’ setting.
• If there’s no bilge pump or only a manual one is fitted, install an automatic bilge pump – and don’t be complacent; just because it automatically operates, it still needs checking (it relies on battery power so unless the boat’s shore powered, there isn’t an unlimited supply).
• Check drain holes and clear debris – keeping these clear will stop water running into the engine room.
• Check ropes and anchoring points, if the mooring’s at risk of flooding, run a rope to locations that can still be accessed even in a flood situation.
• In windy conditions, check ropes for chafing and ensure they are well positioned and adjusted to the conditions.
• Before moving a boat in ice consider the importance of your journey – it’s easy to believe you’re impregnable when surrounded by steel but even a couple of inches of ice can pierce a hull.
• Check river conditions, and again consider whether the journey is really necessary; river conditions can change quickly and easily catch you unaware. Get updates from the Environment Agency.
• Check the wind direction before manoeuvring. When coupled with difficult river conditions, the windage of a boat can be easily underestimated and your vessel will become uncontrollable.

“If your vessel’s caught in a situation, don’t attempt to recover it without assistance. Severe weather conditions increase the risk to boat owners and simple tasks can easily result in accidents and injury.”

Acknowledgement to Marine Industry News – [email protected].

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants 
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections
Tel: 01603 327 123  

 www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Sabre 27 yacht sitting on twin bilge keels ready for inspection, we had to navigate around the tidal pools of water

EMS undertake Insurance and Pre Purchase Surveys Any Where at Any Time and as per our motto we have recently undertaken a Survey for Insurance Purposes on a small sloop rigged yacht in Wells Harbour, North Norfolk

Very pleasant view of Wells harbour and the 1904 granary 

However, to reach the yacht which was beached on a sand bar across from the harbour wall, entailed wading across the river – fortunately on a bright and warm Autumn day and at low tide, and walking across sand / dunes to reach the vessel – being berthed on its own twin bilge keels at low tide.

On this Sabre 27  Sloop Rigged Yacht the following items required attention:

As surveyors (not sail-makers or riggers) we are unable to provide a written report or qualified opinion of standing / running rigging, sails, mast and spars, associated equipment, winches and fittings etc. We do however provide an opinion of all rigging / equipment seen at deck level

The gas installation was found to not conform to current regulations, consequently such as the stove recommended removal the unit being considered unsafe

A catalytic heater was fitted and these heaters are also not recommended

• Seacock Valves / Skin Fittings                     Require new J clips
• Fuel System                                                    Improve access to tank, filler & vent connections
• Batteries                                                          Battery isolation switch labels and new terminal connectors
• Fire & Safety                                                   Fire Extinguishers out of date 
• LPG System                                                    As above
• Rigging                                                            Replace running rigging

Wells Harbour – History

There has been a port at Wells for over 600 years. The harbour is protected by salt marshes behind a sand bar. Because it is a natural safe haven from the unpredictable North Sea weather the Port of Wells was one of England’s major harbours in Tudor times and a thriving, centre for shipping and maritime industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its greatest period of prosperity was probably from 1830 to 1860. The stone quay side was constructed in 1845 following an Act of Parliament the previous year. The coming of the railway in 1857 marked the beginning of decline though there was a resurgence from 1960 to 1989 when coasters bringing fertilizer and animal feed came in some numbers. The Granary with its distinctive gantry was built around 1904;^[3] it has now been turned into apartments. The gantry allowed grain to be transferred between the building and ships without disrupting road traffic. The railway closed in 1964 and in 1976, the Wells Harbour Railway was constructed to link the town with the beach

Wells salt marshes

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants 
EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections & Engine Inspections

www.europeanmarinesurveys.com
Tel: 01603 327 123

Over that past few years the Boat Safety Scheme Office in conjunction with the Hire Trade, BSS Examiners, Navigation Authorities and Hirer Representatives have been reviewing the existing Examination Checking Procedures (ECP’s) relating to UK Hire Boats. This year saw the implementation of the New 2017 (ECP’s) which took effect on the 1^st April.

A revised set of requirements and modernised checking procedures are now applied to hire craft. Hire craft in this case are any powered boats such as weekly and day hire vessels:

• Let or hired under an arrangement, whether or not on a pre-contract basis;
• The subject of a bare boat charter arrangement;
• The subject of any form of third-party managed shared-use arrangement (including timeshare or shared ownership).

The term ‘hire boat’ does not include:

• Privately owned or managed boats;
• Boats operating commercially with a skipper or crew, and which carry passengers;
• Shared-ownership boats managed jointly by the private owners;
• Workboats;
• Emergency service boats and rescue boats.
• Hotel boats,
• Boats let as residences or longer term accommodation

From 1 April 2017:

1A) The BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Vessels will apply to all hire boats.

All relevant private boat BSS checks are mandatory compliance for hire boats, whereas for privately-owned and managed boats the set of checks is a mix of requirements and advice checks.

For the avoidance of doubt, these are the checks for Hire Boats that are required compliance and that also appear in the private boat examination procedures as advice checks.

To view and download the public edition the BSS Examination Checking Procedures for Privately Owned and Managed Vessels BSS (version 3.0 April 2015) click here.

1 B) New and revised BSS checks also apply to hire boats in addition to the private boat ones mentioned above. These additional BSS Requirements for hire boats are made up of seven new checks and nine original requirements from Part 10 of the 2002 BSS Standards.

To view and download the list of additional BSS Requirements for hire boats click here.

Technical support for any hire boat operator seeking information to help move their fleet to full compliance is available by using the ‘contact-us‘ page on this site where questions, photos, diagrams and supporting documents can be uploaded to the BSS website or call 0333 202 1000.

Background information from the hirer safety review and resulting consultation leading to the new BSS Hire Boat Requirements for April 2017

The original September 2015 consultation paper (now closed) and details of the revisions – click here

A short summary of the changes proposed arising out of the consultation (Sept 2015) can be read here. (Feb 2016)

A summary of the impact for hire operators as a result of the adoption of the private boat checks for hire boats, click here as published for the 2015 consultation

A hard copy of the 2015 consultation document is available upon request.

All comments and the BSS responses in detail can be viewed here (Feb 2016).

The news release (Feb 16) announcing decision to implement the revised BSS hire boat requirements from April 2017 can be viewed here

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants                    

EMS also undertake BSS Inspections & Engine Oil Analysis Reports
Tel: 01603 327 123      www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

European Marine Services Ltd  inc. European Marine Surveys carry out insurance Damage Assessments and Loss Adjusting etc for most of the major Marine Insurance Companies – plus Marine Surveys for Insurance Purposes

       Norman 18 – Accidental Sinking

REMEMBER to check and service those fittings below the floors which are not obvious being ………….

                                                                   ‘Out of Sight – Out of Mind’

This was a very unfortunate accident and was consequent of a ‘loose’ skin fitting’ in the bottom of the boat – feeding cooling water to the engine

In summary the raw water seacock involved fed the engine cooling and was therefore subject to some vibration. It would appear that over time the vibration resulted in the securing nuts etc working loose thus allowing limited ingress of water

Regretfully there was no 12v Auto bilge pump   –   Which is an Insurance Requirement

The Norman 18 was left overnight moored in some reeds due to engine failure and upon the return of the owner the next day he found the above –  see photo

This boat was the owner’s treasured possession and though the vessel was old, the owner nevertheless got a lot of pleasure just river cruising and watching the world pass by………..

History – Norman Cruisers of Shaw, Lancashire were a prolific designer of inland cruisers, building a total of 7000 craft. The company founded in the late 1950s went into GRP production in the mid 1960s, starting with the Norman 17.

The business ceased trading in December 1979 (The Winter of Discontent) and started again in 1980. New models were introduced 24, 27 and 22 wide beam but the moulding shop was destroyed in a fire in 1982. This destroyed most of the moulds and the business never recovered. Some moulds were re-built and when the business finally ceased, these were sold and marketed under other names. Also some designs were copied and made into hybrids.

In the 1970s around 65% of boats were exported. Principle markets (in order of Volume) were Holland, Germany, Norway, France, Sweden. Boats in Holland were imported by Internaut of Rotterdam and were sold under the name of “Inter”. Hence the 20 was the Inter620.

Norman Cruisers were in the top 3  largest pleasureboat builders in the UK. Westerley Yachts being the biggest.

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants                    

EMS also undertake BSS Inspections & Engine Oil Analysis Reports
Tel: 01603 327 123      www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

Each year boaters die or are made seriously ill from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Boats are built to keep water out, but this also makes them good containers for gases and fumes.

We at European Marine Services are constantly promoting & recommending in our Pre Purchase Surveys the installation / fitting of Carbon Monoxide Detectors on all boats with internal propulsion engines

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas that has no smell or taste. Breathing it in can make you unwell, and it can kill if you’re exposed to high levels.

Every year in the UK, more than 200 people go to hospital with suspected carbon monoxide poisoning, which leads to around 50 deaths.

After carbon monoxide is breathed in, it enters your bloodstream and mixes with haemoglobin (the part of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body), to form carboxyhaemoglobin.

When this happens, the blood is no longer able to carry oxygen, and this lack of oxygen causes the body’s cells and tissue to fail and die.

The longer you inhale the gas, the worse your symptoms will be. You may lose balance, vision and memory and, eventually, you may lose consciousness. This can happen within two hours if there’s a lot of carbon monoxide in the air.

The Norfolk Broads

2016 has been a bad year for CO accidents with the two deaths on Wroxham Broad earlier in the summer. Which if a carbon monoxide detector had been installed – this fatal accident may well have been prevented.

NB: This accident was NOT the result of an installed LPG system, but consequent of engine exhaust fumes

Only this month we had another example of exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide) being released by the engine / exhaust hose installation within the living / accommodation space, which release was detected thankfully by a newly installed detector – Nobody was harmed

It is important to note that CO detectors are NOT currently part of the Boat Safety Scheme – Install CO alarm certified to BS EN 50291-2

CO build-up in the cabin can occur with one or a mix of these factors:

• with faulty, badly maintained, or misused appliances
• exhaust fumes from a boat’s engine or generator PLUS perished / faulty / blocked exhaust hosing
• escaped flue gases from solid fuel stoves
• blocked ventilation or short supply of air – fuels need the right amount of oxygen to burn safely

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants

EMS also undertake Boat Safety Inspections

Tel : 01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com

      EUROPEAN MARINE SERVICES Ltd        Big Welcome to William Kirby

European Marine Services Ltd / European Marine Surveys – Are delighted to welcome William Kirby as a new Marine Surveying Associate.

William will be undertaking Pre Purchase Surveys on vessels of less than 50’ and focusing principally on GRP.

Moving from Bedfordshire at the age of 16, William followed his passion for boats & joined his parents in their new family venture of Freshwater Cruisers based in Brundall. Norfolk

Broadening his horizons, in 1999, William trained at Berkshire College to become a Boat Safety Scheme Examiner. He is also qualified as a Gas Safe Engineer carrying out LPG soundness testing, servicing & installations.

The small hire fleet soon developed into a larger scale business incorporating Marine Engineering, Boat Maintenance & General Repairs. This built up a good customer base & reputation for quality workmanship across the Norfolk Broads.

In 2014, some 21 years later it was time for his parents to retire, thus launching the beginning of William setting up on his own as Freshwater Marine focusing on Boat Safety Scheme Inspections & utilising his long established name within the Marine Industry to go forward.

In his spare time he volunteers with The Raptor Trust, rescuing & rehabilitating wild injured birds of prey as well as having his own Hawks which he flies during the winter months. He also enjoys attending motorsport events throughout the summer.

Qualifications:

•  IIMS Diploma in Yacht & Small Craft Surveying.    Qualified in 2004/05.
•  Gas Safe Registered. Previously CORGI Registered.
•  Boat Safety Scheme Examiner since 1999.
•  Member of the Association of Boat Safety Examiners (ABSE)
•  Full PI Insurance Cover with EMS Ltd

For more information contact European Marine Services Ltd.  Marine Surveyors & Consultants

Tel : 01603 327 123        www.europeanmarinesurveys.com