About Battery Fire Training

The maritime fire risk profile is changing fast. Electric vehicles are shipped in growing numbers on ro-ro, ro-pax and pure car and truck carriers, and lithium-ion batteries now sit inside almost every piece of equipment onboard. A lithium-ion fire is not just a bigger version of a normal fire. It can escalate in seconds through thermal runaway, reignite hours after it appears to be out, and release toxic, flammable gases that put crew and vessel at serious risk.

Stream Marine Training was one of the first providers in the industry to build dedicated battery and fuel cell training, and we continue to lead on it. Our courses give crews and shore teams the knowledge and practical confidence to detect a problem early, intervene safely and manage the aftermath, skills that conventional firefighting training does not fully cover.

What is a Lithium-Ion Battery Fire?

A lithium-ion battery fire happens when a cell overheats and enters thermal runaway, a self-sustaining chemical reaction where rising temperature triggers more heat, more pressure and eventually fire or explosion. Unlike a standard fire, it can:

• Ignite with little or no warning, often after physical damage, overcharging or a manufacturing fault
• Spread cell to cell, making it extremely difficult to control once started
• Release toxic and flammable off-gases, including hydrogen-based compounds
• Reignite long after the visible flames are gone, because heat stays trapped inside the cells

Because of this, traditional firefighting methods are often ineffective on their own. Battery fires demand a different approach to detection, cooling, intervention and post-incident recovery, which is exactly what our training focuses on.

What Does Battery Fire Training Cover?

Our battery fire training builds real competence, not just theory. Depending on the course, delegates learn to:

• Understand how lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells work, and why they fail
• Recognise the early warning signs of a battery in distress
• Understand thermal runaway, off-gassing and reignition risk
• Apply the correct response, containment and cooling techniques
• Use specialist firefighting equipment designed for lithium-ion fires
• Handle, store and stow batteries and EVs safely, including on ro-ro and ro-pax vessels
• Embed the right procedures within onboard safety management systems

Training blends practical, scenario-based exercises with clear theory, so delegates leave able to act with confidence in a real incident.

Who Should Take Battery Fire Training?

Battery fire awareness is no longer only a cargo issue. Our training is relevant to:

• Seafarers and deck and engine crew on vessels carrying EVs or battery cargo
• Ferry, ro-ro, ro-pax and car carrier crews
• Offshore and renewables personnel working with battery storage
• Shore staff, terminal and cargo handling teams
• Management, safety officers and senior officers responsible for procedures and compliance

If your people work near lithium-ion batteries in any form, they benefit from this training.

Battery Fires and the Regulations

Regulation is moving quickly to catch up with the risk. From 1 January 2026, the updated IMDG Code (Amendment 42-24) brought in tighter rules and new classifications for shipping lithium batteries, which are carried as Class 9 dangerous goods. The IMO has agreed a workplan to develop safety requirements for battery-powered ships, and the industry is actively pushing for lithium-ion firefighting to be recognised within future STCW requirements. The ISM Code already requires operators to make sure crew are properly familiarised with the hazards relevant to their duties.

Training now, ahead of the mandate, keeps your crews safe and your operation ready for what is coming. Stream Marine Training keeps its courses aligned with the latest guidance as it develops.

Why Choose SMT for Battery Fire Training?

Stream Marine Training is an established, MCA-approved maritime training provider, delivering safety and firefighting training to thousands of seafarers every year from our centre at Glasgow Airport. On battery and alternative fuel safety we are recognised as an industry leader, having pioneered dedicated battery and fuel cell training and continued to shape the conversation across the sector.

Our instructors bring real operational experience from across the maritime world, and our facilities let us train firefighting skills in a controlled, practical environment rather than a classroom alone. When you train with SMT, you get current, credible instruction from a provider the industry already trusts.

Related Courses

Battery fire training sits alongside our wider fire safety and alternative fuel training:

• STCW Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting (FPFF)
• STCW Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)
• Alternative Fuels and Systems
• IGF Courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Is battery fire training a legal requirement? There is no single STCW certificate mandating lithium-ion firefighting yet, but regulation is moving that way. The IMDG Code already governs how lithium batteries are shipped, and the ISM Code requires crew to be familiar with the hazards relevant to their role. Training now keeps you safe and ahead of upcoming requirements.

How do you put out a lithium-ion battery fire? Lithium-ion fires need large volumes of water for cooling and careful containment, because they reignite easily and release toxic gases. Standard methods often are not enough on their own. Our training covers the correct techniques and the specialist equipment now available for these fires.

Who is battery fire training for? Anyone working with or near lithium-ion batteries, from seafarers and ferry crews to offshore teams, cargo handlers, shore staff and safety officers.

Where is the training delivered? At our training centre at Glasgow Airport, with custom and on-site options available for operators. Get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Get in Touch

Email: bookings@streammarinetraining.com Phone: +44 (0) 141 212 8777