Sea Views

• Lithium Ion Battery Safety

  Send us a textIn this episode, Adam and I, welcome the leading expert on lithium ion battery safety Professor Paul Christensen to talk about the increasingly topical issue of managing the risks of lithium ion batteries in the maritime and port environment.  Lithium ion batteries have quickly become part of life now in electric vehicles and e scooters for example. On dry land in the UK, Fire services are dealing with one lithium ion battery fire/explosion every day. Thankfully, explosions and fire from malfunctioning lithium ion batteries is not a common problem but the hazard and severity of the incidents is great.  At sea we have seen the catastrophic fires on MV Fremantle Highway and Felicity Ace. Paul explains the difference between traditional combustion fires and lithium ion battery incidents and we dive into the science behind thermal runaway, vapour cloud explosion and fire. NEW FINDINGS ON DANGERS OF VAPOUR CLOUD INHALATIONPaul’s very recent field trials in February 2025, have discovered new information about harmful molecules in the vapour cloud which appear to be causing more severe inhalation injuries for people than traditional smoke inhalation.  FIREFIGHTING & SOLUTIONSPaul’s work involves real world field trials and testing to try to find solutions or better manage the risks but lithium ion battery fires are not extinguished with any of the traditional methods of firefighting which use liquids or remove oxygen.  This presents significant difficulties when tackling this type of fire on a ship at sea with great risk to seafarers who have previously been trained to deal with combustion type fires. This episode of Sea Views is supported and funded by CHIRP and The Seafarers’ Charity:Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereCHIRPImproving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.The Seafarers' CharityImproving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.CHIRPImproving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' CharityImproving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears

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• Safe at Sea… it takes all of us!

  Send us a textSea Views is kicking off the new year with a look at the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network’s (ISWAN) new global campaign: ‘Safe at Sea…it takes all of us!’, with a focus on the role that male seafarers can take as allies in support of their women colleagues.Women seafarers are more than three times as likely to contact ISWAN’s helplines about an issue of abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimination and/or violence than men seafarers. They are also more than twice as likely to raise a mental health issue.Georgia Allen, Projects and Relationships Manager at ISWAN who led on the development of the campaign said,“The concept of allyship is a fantastic one with the onus on those around you to pay more attention, give more support, ultimately bringing the crew together as a whole and helping to lift everyone to make a psychologically safe environment on board”Sophia Grant joins the Sea Views podcast from the UK P&I Club, with 30 years experience in maritime and shares her perspective on changing industry attitudes to recognising mental health and psychological safety as part of the safety culture on board ships now.ISWAN’s Safe at Sea… it takes all of us! campaign is funded by The Seafarers’ Charity and The UK P&I Club. Let’s hope that 2025 brings positive changes for seafarers.  Resources and support:Link to guides on How to Be An Ally Link to ISWAN web site SAFE At SEAISWAN SEAFARER HELP ServiceISWAN YACHT CREW HELP ServiceResearch by Cardiff University’s Seafarers International Research Centre Port Based Welfare Needs Of Women Working on Cargo ShipsIf you have been affected by any of the issues in this podcast you can contact these charities for support:SAFER WAVES For confidential support, email trained volunteers at: [email protected] HER UK If you need help please contact Paula on Mobile: 07861748522 or via the website: www.saluteher.co.ukCHIRPImproving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' CharityImproving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears

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• Portsmouth International Port

  Send us a textSafety In Focus at Portsmouth International Port.In this episode Ben McInnes, Harbour Master at the busy Portsmouth International Port explains how safety is key to running their port operations:It’s a very busy harbour with cruise vessels, super yachts, hovercraft, passenger and RO-RO ferries, cargo ships, an inshore fishing fleet, leisure sailors and Royal Navy vessels. How does he keep passengers, seafarers, port staff and the harbour pilots safe? How is the port caring for the welfare of thousands of international seafarers who visit the port?How to tackle the emerging maritime transport risks such as lithium battery fires?Ben also explains how the port is undertaking a ground breaking £28 million pound decarbonisation project including a shore power system for ships, aiming to make Portsmouth International Port the first port in the UK with net zero emissions by 2030. Find out more about the Sea Change project for maritime decarbonisation HERECHIRPImproving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' CharityImproving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears

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• SOLUTIONS FOR GLOBAL FISHING SAFETY

  Send us a textThere are 39 million fishers globally with estimates up to 100,000 deaths a year.  We talk with Alan McCulla, OBE, the IFFS Coordinator.  Alan tells us more about safety solutions funded by the International Fund For Fishing Safety around the world.“The amount of money being spent to prove that fish is caught sustainably now is way above what is being invested in the safety of humans.  I think something is wrong here.  If you agree with me that a human life is at least as valuable as a fish then come and talk to us.”Find out more or donate to the International Fund For Fishing Safety HERE This episode of Sea Views is supported and funded by The Seafarers’ Charity and CHIRP.Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereCHIRPImproving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' CharityImproving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears

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• Safety In The Cruise Sector

  Send us a textOver 31 million people took a cruise last year. The global cruise market continues to grow, with more vessels launching every year and a revenue forecast for 26% growth in the next 5 years.We talk with Captain Aseem Hashmi, master of the iconic Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 about safety and the changes he has experienced and implemented over his 30 year career.The cruise sector has seen a long term trend in reduction of operational accidents and we ask Aseem for his analysis on how that has been achieved.  Aseem is also insightful about how important the leadership role is for the Captain and officers onboard passenger vessels.  He should know a thing or two about that; with 1,173 crew under his command and up 2,691 passengers in his care, during each voyage onboard Queen Mary 2.This episode of Sea Views is supported and funded by CHIRP and The Seafarers’ Charity:Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereCHIRPImproving safety at sea worldwide through the confidential and independent reporting programme.Make an incident report to CHIRP Maritime hereThe Seafarers' CharityImproving the lives of seafarers and their families for more than 105 years.Sound and engineering by Rocket Ears

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