Classification
- Incident Type: Fire
- Severity: High
Vessel Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Vessel Name | Genius Star XI |
| Vessel Type | Bulk Carrier |
| Flag State | Panama [PA] |
| IMO Number | 9622710 |
| Gross Tonnage | 9984 |
| LOA (m) | 125.0 |
| Breadth (m) | 21.0 |
| Bollard Pull (t) | |
| Power (kW) | 3900 |
| Owner/Operator | GS Navigation S.A. / Wisdom Marine Lines Inc. |
| TEU | |
| Year Built | 2012 |
| Crew Size | 19 |
Incident Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | 2023-12-25 |
| Location | North Pacific Ocean, about 371 nautical miles southwest of Agattu Island, Alaska, and about 57 nautical miles southeast of Seguam Island, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 48.100000, 166.530000 |
| Region | Pacific Ocean |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Direct Damage | |
| Economic Damage | USD 3.8 million |
| Outcome | Two cargo-hold fires were extinguished without casualties or pollution; 41 BESS units had broken loose from their lashings. |
Key facts
- Genius Star XI discovered a fire in cargo hold 1 on 25 December 2023 while carrying 192 lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) units in heavy weather.
- A second fire started in cargo hold 2 on 28 December while the vessel was en route to Dutch Harbor.
- The NTSB found that 41 of 43 damaged tween-deck BESS units had broken free from their lashings; three units experienced internal fires.
- No injuries or pollution were reported. Property damage from both fires was estimated at USD 3.8 million.
Narrative
According to NTSB Marine Investigation Report MIR-25/41, the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Genius Star XI discovered a fire in cargo hold 1 at 08:30 on 25 December 2023 while transiting the North Pacific in heavy weather with 192 BESS units on board. The crew discharged the vessel's fixed CO2 system into the hold and diverted toward Dutch Harbor, Alaska. On 28 December, while still en route, a second fire started in cargo hold 2. With no additional CO2 available, the crew cooled the hold externally with fire hoses until the vessel anchored near Dutch Harbor on 29 December and the fires were declared extinguished.
The report states that there were no injuries or pollution and that property damage from both fires was estimated at USD 3.8 million. After the vessel reached Dutch Harbor, responders determined that 43 of the 160 tween-deck BESS units had been damaged and 41 had broken loose from their lashings. Investigators found that the fires originated in three of those loose units.
The NTSB determined that the probable cause was the breakaway of BESS units during heavy weather because the lashing belts had been improperly secured. The breakaway deformed the units internally and triggered thermal runaway in lithium-ion battery packs.
Sequence of events
| Date/time | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023-12-25 08:30 | The crew discovered a fire in cargo hold 1. |
| 2023-12-25 | The crew discharged fixed CO2 and diverted toward Dutch Harbor. |
| 2023-12-28 | A second fire started in cargo hold 2 while the vessel was en route. |
| 2023-12-29 | Genius Star XI anchored near Dutch Harbor and the fires were declared extinguished. |
Contributing factors
| Factor | Evidence status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Improperly secured BESS units | Confirmed finding | The NTSB found that lashing belts allowed 41 units to break loose during heavy weather. |
| Heavy weather | Confirmed finding | Heavy seas caused vessel motion that contributed to the cargo shifting and breakaway. |
| Internal battery deformation | Confirmed finding | Three loose units experienced internal fires and thermal runaway. |
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board published Marine Investigation Report MIR-25/41. It determined that improperly secured BESS units broke loose in heavy weather, became internally deformed and entered thermal runaway, causing the two cargo-hold fires. The report records no injuries or pollution and estimates property damage at USD 3.8 million.