Philippine operator Montenegro Shipping Lines (MSLI) has instructed its vessel crews to prohibit the embarkation of both fully-electric and hybrid-electric motor vehicles aboard its ferries, local newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer reported recently.
The advisory applies to both passenger-driven vehicles and cargo vehicles and covers all routes served by the company. Crews have therefore been tasked with identifying and inspecting vehicles before allowing these to board any of the company's vessels.
The company said in the advisory that the prohibition of such vehicles, "is being implemented as a safety precaution to minimise the risk of fire, explosion, thermal runaway and other potential hazards associated with electric and hybrid vehicle batteries during vessel operation."
MSLI issued the advisory on Wednesday, September 16, just one week after the fire that killed nearly 80 people on the Ro-Pax ferry June Aster off Palawan province.
June Aster, which is owned by a different company, was transporting an electric vehicle, a utility truck, and five motorcycles in addition to general freight and passengers when a blaze ignited on board.
However, officials of the the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) said that ongoing investigations have not yet confirmed whether the fire originated from the embarked electric vehicle.
The DOE has assured that it is coordinating with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) regarding the possible updating of the rules and regulations that cover the transport of electric vehicles aboard vessels.
At a budget deliberation hearing at the Philippine Senate on Thursday, September 17, Patrick Aquino, Director of the DOE's Energy Utilization Management Bureau, explained that there is an ongoing review by both DOE and MARINA with the goal of updating the existing rules regarding electric vehicle transport.
“Right now, the existing regulations do not specifically prohibit the transport of electric vehicles," Aquino said. "So we are now working with MARINA with the issuance of specific regulations, so our shipping lines will be properly guided."
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