14.05.2010

"FCS Alsterwasser" Incident

During a test run after maintenance of the “FCS Alsterwasser", at the shipyard in Oorkaten, Germany on 28 April 2010 the onboard lead-acid batteries overheated. Due to this overheating, a fire in the battery compartment ensued. Thereafter, the fire department was able to quickly put the fire out. The cause of the fire is not yet been determined, as the official investigation is underway. A statement on the level of damage will be made available in the near future.

The batteries had been replaced only a few days prior and were in process to be tested for the first time on the Elbe. The batteries are charged slowly from the fuel cell and the power is made available for cast-off and driving manoeuvres. It was systematically confirmed that there was no risk of the fire on fuel cells or the hydrogen storage tanks. The fire was comparable to a conventional cable fire. There was never a danger to captain or crew. All installed and certified safety and emergency systems functioned:

• The physical separation (division) of battery, fuel cell and hydrogen tanks to prevent the spread of a possible fire.

• There was no hydrogen leaked (ie, the physical separation worked. However in the case of direct fire contact or overheating the hydrogen tanks, the generated heat would lead to a controlled automatic discharge of hydrogen outside the vessel)

• The immediate automatic shutdown of the fuel cell at an incident.

• The fire fighting system in the battery room was activated for fire suppression. However, the hatch was left open which reduced the effectiveness of the suppression.

The fire department and the safety certifier Germanischer Lloyd confirmed that there was never a risk of explosion.

« back to overview