Domestic operators of roll-on roll-on (RORO) ferries have been advised to plan for the eventuality of an EV fire, which are substantially more difficult to fight than fires caused by internal-combustion (ICE) vehicles.
The authority has warned ferry operators about the risk of high-voltage shocks, toxic gas leaks and explosions, and direct jet flames.
It warns of the danger posed by thermal runaway, whereby excess heat building up in the battery causes a chemical reaction that is fuelled by more heat. It says EV fires can develop in intensity quickly and rapidly reach their maximum intensity, often within 2-3 minutes, and can be difficult to extinguish – and pose a risk of reignition.
A second fire has now been reported aboard the ship in its number 2 cargo hold but according to the news outlet, the vessel has already exhausted its CO2 system. They are reporting that the crew is perimeter cooling the cargo holds. The captain has ordered the crew not to open the holds so that they remain sealed helping to contain and control the fire…
The vessel, the Genius Star XI , is a small handy size bulker owned by Taiwan’s Wisdom Marine Lines. She departed Hai Pong, Vietnam on December 10 after stops in Thailand and Singapore and is bound for San Diego, California…
The vessel is loaded with more than 800 metric tons of lithium-ion batteries…It is expected to reach Dutch Harbor before midnight on December 29, but according to the reports had been instructed to remain outside the port until the situation is better understood and a plan is developed.
All 22 crew members aboard the Liberia-flagged car carrier Morning Midas were rescued without injury after evacuating the burning vessel into a life raft in the Pacific Ocean, the US Coast Guard said on Wednesday…
The vessel is transporting about 3,000 vehicles, including roughly 800 EVs…
Large vessel fires remain a leading concern for insurers, as indicated by the latest report from Allianz. The report points to a decade-high number of fires across all vessel types in 2024 (250) with 30% (69 incidents) involving container, cargo or Ro-Ro vessels. Mis-declared cargo continues to be a key contributor.
Allianz’s Safety and Shipping Review for 2025 makes for interesting reading. There is a whole page (p.42) with the title “Lithium-ion battery risks continue to develop in the electrification age.”
From the Executive Summary: Lithium-ion battery risks continue to develop in the electrification age: Electrification of the global economy is spurring lithium-ion battery demand, with the market projected to hit $322bn by 2030, more than double its value in 2024, driven by electric vehicles and renewable energy transitions. However, such growth poses risks for shipping and supply chains. Recent fires at battery facilities highlight potential industry dangers while maritime concerns are rising, with incidents on vessels at sea and at US and Canadian ports. The significant increase in demand of BESS (battery energy storage systems) and the transportation of such units over sea and land adds another dimension to battery risks. While inherently more stable they still pose a great risk in case of fire, and they are able to store huge amounts of energy.
Companies and their insurers are focused on the risks posed to shipping and related supply chains. There is considerable work in progress to understand them and how they can be mitigated, for example, around fire detection and prevention, and how fires are best tackled, as well as development of risk controls, ensuring corrective action can be taken before reaching a critical state.
Matson, a leading U.S. carrier in the Pacific, has announced the immediate suspension of transporting electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles aboard its vessels, citing growing safety concerns related to lithium-ion batteries.
“Due to increasing concern for the safety of transporting vehicles powered by large lithium-ion batteries, Matson is suspending acceptance of used or new electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles for transport aboard its vessels,” the company stated in a customer advisory.
The decision follows several high-profile maritime incidents involving lithium battery fires, including the recent sinking of the Morning Midas in the North Pacific this June.
Any insight as to why these things seem to be spontaneously combusting at an increasing rate?
We don’t hear about this happening to cars that are sitting on a car lot or in someone’s garage (not without extenuating circumstances in nearly all cases) so what is happening on these ships?