Car Carrier Giant Unexpectedly Prohibits EV and PHEV Shipments | Carscoops

      A prominent shipping company in the Pacific has prohibited the transport of electric vehicles (EVs) following a maritime incident that raised significant safety concerns.

      Matson has halted all new bookings for the shipment of EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

      This action follows a maritime fire that resulted in the loss of thousands of vehicles at sea.

      The company has not indicated how long this shipping suspension will last.

      For residents of Hawaii hoping to use electric cars, whether fully electric or plug-in hybrids, a new hurdle has emerged. Matson, Inc., one of the key shipping companies for the state and a significant player in Pacific cargo transport, has opted to discontinue the shipment of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

      The company provides services to areas like Alaska, Guam, and Micronesia, but this recent policy change halts the importation of EVs to the islands for the time being.

      The decision comes in the aftermath of the Morning Midas shipping incident in June, where a cargo ship sank due to a fire while transporting 3,048 vehicles, including 70 electric and 681 hybrid vehicles. Matson has expressed concerns regarding the transportation of vehicles powered by large lithium-ion battery packs.

      The choice to stop shipping EVs and PHEVs is surprising given that the company had previously formed a collaborative team to tackle the issues of transporting vehicles with lithium batteries.

      Matson has made an immediate suspension of EV shipments.

      “Due to rising concerns regarding the safety of transporting vehicles powered by large lithium-ion batteries, Matson is suspending the acceptance of used or new electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles for transport on its vessels,” the company announced. “Effective immediately, we have stopped taking new bookings for these shipments to and from all trades.”

      As reported by The Maritime Executive, unlike dedicated car carriers like the Morning Midas or others such as the Felicity Ace or Fremantle Highway, Matson’s ships lack large, open storage decks. Instead, all vehicles are transported in individual containers. This arrangement, while effective for general cargo, makes fire detection and extinguishing more complex than on specialized roll-on/roll-off car carriers.

      There are still possibilities for the future.

      Currently, Hawaii has about 37,000 electric vehicles, with demand on the rise. Notably, Matson's ban may not be a permanent measure. The shipping company recently communicated to its customers that it “continues to support industry efforts to establish comprehensive standards and procedures to mitigate fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries at sea and intends to resume accepting them when adequate safety solutions that fulfill our requirements are developed.”

      For the time being, however, those interested in shipping an EV to the islands may need to consider alternative options or wait until the industry can identify safer methods for transporting high-voltage cargo across the Pacific.