A global transport firm has banned electrical automobiles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electrical automobiles (PHEVs) from its vessels after an onboard hearth precipitated a rival firm’s ship to sink within the North Pacific Ocean earlier this yr.
Matson, a 104-year-old transport and providers firm primarily based within the US state of Hawaii, confirmed it is going to now not ship EVs or PHEVs throughout the Pacific Ocean – or another sea.
“Because of rising concern for the security of transporting automobiles powered by giant lithium-ion batteries, Matson is suspending acceptance of used or new electrical automobiles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid automobiles for transport aboard its vessels,” mentioned a letter to prospects from the corporate, which is listed on the New York Inventory Alternate (NYSE).
“Efficient instantly, we’ve ceased accepting new bookings for these shipments to/from all trades.”
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It’s a blow not just for automakers however potential consumers, with The Maritime Govt reporting figures from the Hawaiian Electrical Automobile Affiliation that estimate round 37,000 of the 1.2 million-plus automobiles in Hawaii are EVs.
Fires from automobiles with lithium batteries have distinctive traits, together with quickly reaching temperatures of as much as 1000 levels Celsius from ‘thermal runway’, in addition to toxic-gas launch, making them tough to extinguish.
Along with automobiles themselves, fires have additionally shortly engulfed close by automobiles and precipitated vital harm to buildings, in addition to transport vessels.
Based on The Maritime Govt, Matson had labored to beat the difficulties, together with forming the Electrical Automobile Protected Carriage Group to resolve the difficulty.
It labored on transport and stowage procedures for transport EVs, and putting in thermal imaging cameras to watch temperature spikes indicating a hearth.
Nevertheless, Matson mentioned the flexibility to watch and reply to EV and PHEV fires was hampered by their placement in transport containers.
“Matson continues to assist business efforts to develop complete requirements and procedures to handle hearth danger posed by lithium-ion batteries at sea and plans to renew acceptance of them when acceptable security options that meet our necessities will be applied,” it mentioned within the buyer letter.
In June, the 46,800-ton Morning Midas, carrying 3048 automobiles together with 70 EVs and 681 hybrids, caught hearth on route from China to Mexico.
The blaze precipitated the ship to be evacuated after which deserted round 483km off the coast of Alaska, earlier than restoration makes an attempt had been made.
The makes and fashions of the automobiles on board weren’t disclosed.
It was the third hearth in a vessel with EVs on board, after the Fremantle Freeway sank off the Portuguese coast in 2023 and the Felicity Ace was misplaced the earlier yr.
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