Navy Bans Vaping On Ships After Explosions, Burns

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The U.S. Navy is banning vaping on ships after at least a dozen reports of explosions and injuries.

Naval commanders said in a statement Friday that the temporary electronic cigarette policy aims to protect sailors and the fleet. It starts next month.

Officials cited overheated batteries in vaping equipment as the problem. Explosions have led to fires, first-degree burns and facial disfigurement. During a recent eight-month stretch, 12 incidents put sailors out of work for a combined 77 days. Injuries also restricted some to light duty for a total of five months.

The policy goes into effect May 14, but sailors at sea can request extensions. The Navy says it will make a final determination on e-cigarettes after more analysis.

Vaping will still be allowed in designated areas on land.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Read more
f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.