A world transport firm has banned electrical autos (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electrical autos (PHEVs) from its vessels after an onboard hearth induced a rival firm’s ship to sink within the North Pacific Ocean earlier this yr.
Matson, a 104-year-old transport and companies firm based mostly within the US state of Hawaii, confirmed it’ll now not ship EVs or PHEVs throughout the Pacific Ocean – or every other sea.
“On account of growing concern for the security of transporting autos powered by giant lithium-ion batteries, Matson is suspending acceptance of used or new electrical autos (EVs) and plug-in hybrid autos for transport aboard its vessels,” stated a letter to clients from the corporate, which is listed on the New York Inventory Alternate (NYSE).
“Efficient instantly, we now have 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 Car Affiliation that estimate round 37,000 of the 1.2 million-plus automobiles in Hawaii are EVs.
Fires from autos 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 autos themselves, fires have additionally shortly engulfed close by automobiles and induced vital harm to buildings, in addition to transport vessels.
In response to The Maritime GovtMatson had labored to beat the difficulties, together with forming the Electrical Car Secure Carriage Group to resolve the difficulty.
It labored on transport and stowage procedures for transport EVs, and putting in thermal imaging cameras to observe temperature spikes indicating a hearth.
Nevertheless, Matson stated the flexibility to observe and reply to EV and PHEV fires was hampered by their placement in transport containers.
“Matson continues to help trade efforts to develop complete requirements and procedures to deal with 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 carried out,” it stated within the buyer letter.
In June, the 46,800-ton Morning Midas, carrying 3048 autos together with 70 EVs and 681 hybrids, caught hearth on route from China to Mexico.
The blaze induced the ship to be evacuated after which deserted round 483km off the coast of Alaska, earlier than restoration makes an attempt have been made.
The makes and fashions of the autos 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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