Brine Against the Blaze: Reinventing EV Fire Safety at Sea —Pollution/Chemical-Free

Eva Andrésen
Aug 18
3 min read

A World-First Innovation from the Faroe Islands for Safer Maritime Transport

The Faroe Islands, known for their rugged landscapes and resilient communities, are making waves in a different arena: maritime innovation. With the growing global shift toward electric vehicles (EVs), a new and potentially dangerous challenge has surfaced in the shipping industry—how to manage and extinguish EV fires onboard ferries and RoRo (roll-on/roll-off) and RoPax vessels.

The Faroese company Skansi Offshore, in collaboration with renowned Danish naval architects KNUD E. HANSEN, has introduced a pioneering brine-based fire suppression system specifically engineered to address this modern challenge. The system is already installed and operational aboard the MS Norröna, which services the world’s longest RoPax route between Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland.

A Real Maritime Threat

As the number of EVs crossing oceans increases, so does the concern over onboard safety. Lithium-ion battery fires are notoriously difficult to control: they burn hotter, can reignite even after being extinguished, and release toxic gases. For isolated maritime regions like the Faroe Islands—which rely heavily on shipping for people, goods, and vehicles—the risk is amplified.

A single EV fire at sea can quickly escalate into a full-deck catastrophe, and standard firefighting systems such as CO₂ flooding or water mist are often inadequate in stopping thermal runaway. This vulnerability has prompted regulatory bodies, shipowners, and operators to seek better solutions.

The Brine-Based Breakthrough

Skansi Offshore's solution is as elegant as it is effective. The system uses pre-cooled, saturated saltwater (brine) stored in a 16m³ tank maintained at −19°C. In the event of an EV fire, the system directs brine through hoses into the cabin of the burning vehicle—a window is breached to ensure direct internal access to the battery area.

This method cools the battery cells rapidly, disrupts thermal runaway, and depowers short-circuited systems. The high thermal capacity of brine, combined with its non-toxic, non-pressurized nature, makes it especially well-suited for maritime environments. It avoids the corrosion issues of raw seawater and the chemical footprint of foam or powder-based systems.

The system has been field-tested in full-scale conditions in the Faroe Islands, successfully extinguishing a fully developed EV fire in under an hour. Its modular design allows easy retrofitting and integration with existing vessel infrastructure.

Designed for Remote Realities

What sets this innovation apart is its geographic and logistical relevance. In a remote island context like the Faroe Islands, there is no quick help coming from nearby ports or fire brigades. Vessel crews must be able to handle emergencies entirely on their own.

The brine-based system empowers crew members to respond decisively to an EV fire, using familiar equipment and straightforward procedures. This autonomy is crucial in the North Atlantic, where harsh weather and long distances are the norm, not the exception.

A Blue Economy Success Story

The Faroe Islands are increasingly being recognized as a testing ground for scalable blue economy solutions. With this brine-based innovation, the archipelago demonstrates that even small, remote nations can lead global maritime safety advancements.

In the wake of high-profile maritime fire disasters involving EV cargo—such as the Felicity Ace and Morning Midas—the Skansi Offshore system is a proactive and practical answer to a very modern maritime dilemma.

It reflects the Faroese approach to problem-solving: resilient, resourceful, and deeply connected to the realities of ocean life. This is not just a technical fix—it's a strategic leap forward for maritime safety, born from the challenges and strengths of the islands themselves. More details on https://www.knudehansen.com/news/brine-based-firefighting-system/

Johanna Fischer for Visit Faroe Islands Meetings, June 24, 205

Tíðindabræv

Trýst á knøttin og melda teg til okkara tíðindabræv