Consultation document for Draft MGN 681

This consultation seeks your views on the draft Marine Guidance Note MGN 681 (M) “Fire safety and storage of small electric powered craft on yachts”. Small electrically powered craft and other vehicles (such as personal watercraft) are becoming more commonly used in place of similar petrol-powered craft or vehicles stowed on yachts. Whilst electric craft do not necessarily represent a greater fire risk than petrol craft, there are considerable differences in best practice for storage, fire detection and fire suppression of such craft, which should be considered when they are stored onboard.  This MGN provides guidance for carriage, charging, fire detection and firefighting of small electric craft that may be stowed on yachts.

There has recently been an increase in the number of fires on yachts with industry groups estimating 16 total losses due to fire between August 2021 and August 2022. Whilst the source of some of these fires are explained and have no relation to the measures proposed in this guidance (for example arson, collateral damage from another fire, etc.) many have not had their cause established yet and one potential explanation for the unexplained fires could be lithium-ion battery fires. There has been an increase in the use of small electrically powered craft and other vehicles such as electric tenders, electric jet skis, electric foils (e-foils) and other personal watercraft powered by Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries. However, there has not been a thorough consideration of whether the fire prevention, detection and suppression measures in-place on large yachts for petrol-fuelled craft, are appropriate for newer-battery powered craft. This MGN aims to close this gap in understanding of the risks from these electric vehicles.

Contact Email: marinetechnology@mcga.gov.uk

Start Date: 14 November 2022

Length of Consultation: 12 weeks

Conclusion Date: 06 February 2023