XeTeX fails to compile unmodified template

[padix-key]

When i compile the unmodifed template using latexmk thesis.tex -pdf, latexmk exits with an error:

Output written on thesis.pdf (29 pages).
SyncTeX written on thesis.synctex.gz.
Transcript written on thesis.log.
Latexmk: Examining 'thesis.log'
=== TeX engine is 'XeTeX'
Latexmk: Found input bbl file 'thesis.bbl'
Latexmk: Log file says output to 'thesis.pdf'
Biber warning: [218] Utils.pm:395> WARN - ISBN '978-1-4665-5142-8 1-4665-5142-9' in entry 'book:1314973' is invalid - run biber with '--validate_datamodel' for details.
Latexmk: Found biber source file(s) [biblio.bib publications.bib thesis.bcf]
Latexmk: Errors, so I did not complete making targets
Collected error summary (may duplicate other messages):
  pdflatex: Command for 'pdflatex' gave return code 1
      Refer to 'thesis.log' for details
Latexmk: Use the -f option to force complete processing,
 unless error was exceeding maximum runs, or warnings treated as errors.

I am using TeX Live 2021 on Ubuntu 18.04. I installed all dependencies given in the README.

Having a look into the log, the following lines seem to describe the error:

https://gist.github.com/padix-key/c4e8cb683ed28630d0f730d291a43753#file-thesis-log-L2284-L2296

! No room for a new \write.
\e@ch@ck ...message {No room for a new \string #4}
                                                  \fi \fi 
l.42 \listoftables

? 
\tf@lot=\write16
! Bad number (16).
<recently read> \tf@lot 

l.42 \listoftables

? 

After removing \listoftables, latexmk finishes without an error.

[padix-key]

Based on this Stack Exchange post, I found a solution: It seems that LaTeX is not able to open more than 16 files at the same time, but this was attempted in this case. Calling \usepackage{morewrites} in the preamble fixes the issue (at least for me).

[dnlbauer]

This is strange. I never observed that issue on my machine (maybe depends on version)?

[dnlbauer]

With a clean checkout with Debian Buster with texlive-full 2018.2019022702 installed I cannot reproduce the error. I tried building it with latexmk, xelatex directly and with ninja:

latexmk:

TraditionalBuilder: Engine: xelatex. Invoking latexmk... done.

No errors. Warnings:

/usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/tex/latex/oberdiek/listingsutf8.sty: Package listingsutf8 Warning: Package loading is aborted because of missing \pdf@unescapehex.
/usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/tex/latex/tcolorbox/tcbvignette.code.tex:28: LaTeX Font Warning: Font shape `TU/cmr/m/n' undefined(Font)              using `TU/lmr/m/n' instead on input line 28.
/usr/share/texlive/texmf-dist/tex/latex/etex-pkg/etex.sty: Package etex Warning: Extended allocation already in use.

/home/XXXXX/projects/dissertation-template-test-checkout/thesis.log:1: Double-click here to open the full log.