Lithium-ion batteries on vessels

Lithium-ion batteries are starting to become common on commercial vessles either as part of an electric propulsion system or as a replacement to conventional battery technology. This guidance contains advice for operators, marine surveyors, design approvers and naval architects about the risks of using lithium-ion batteries and how to address them.

These guidelines are for operators, marine surveyors, design approvers and naval architects of commercial vesels which are designed as electric-propelled vessels or where lithium-ion batteries are used as a replacement on a conventional powered vessel.

Swapping conventional batteries with Li-ion batteries

Swapping conventional batteries
with Li-ion batteries[PDF:250kB, 4 pages]

This guidance highlights the importance of managing the health and safety risks of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries when they are used to replace conventional lead-acid batteries on non-SOLAS commercial vessels not originally designed for them.

Guidance for electric-propelled vessels

Guidance for electric-propelled vessels[PDF:193kB, 6 pages]

This quick guide provides a general overview of actions that surveyors, designers, and operators can do to minimise risks arising from vessels propelled by a Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery system.