Are battery energy storage systems a threat to maritime safety?

12. March 2025 In recent years, demand for the maritime transportation of containerised Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) has grown significantly. However, due to the high safety risks associated with energy storage containers, their transportation poses new challenges to maritime safety.

What are the risks of energy storage systems?

Overweight risks Due to the large size and mass of energy storage systems, individual units usually weigh over 30 tons. They face higher risks of dropping, impact and vibration during loading, unloading, and transportation.

What are the risks associated with the maritime transportation of Bess?

The maritime transportation of BESS primarily involves the following risks: Lithium battery safety risks Lithium batteries, as the core component of energy storage systems, are characterized by high energy density and power output. However, their safety directly determines the overall safety of the energy storage system.

What happens if the energy storage system fails?

UCA5-N: When the energy storage system fails, the safety monitoring management system does not provide linkage protection logic. [H5] UCA5-P: When the energy storage system fails, the safety monitoring management system provides the wrong linkage protection logic.

Are lithium-ion battery energy storage systems safe?

Lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) has rapidly developed and widely applied due to its high energy density and high flexibility. However, the frequent occurrence of fire and explosion accidents has raised significant concerns about the safety of these systems.

How to reduce the safety risk associated with large battery systems?

To reduce the safety risk associated with large battery systems, it is imperative to consider and test the safety at all levels, from the cell level through module and battery level and all the way to the system level, to ensure that all the safety controls of the system work as expected.