Example Guidance on Electric vehicles onboard passenger roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ferries
At our most recent ICHCA Technical panel call, the topic of electric vehicle/Li-Ion battery fires was raised once again. The link below will take interested readers to the recently published Marine Guidance Note MGN 653 (M) from the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency, the regulatory body for UK maritime safety. This guidance aims to raise awareness of the risks and mitigations for the carriage of electric vehicles on board passenger roll-on roll-off (ro-ro) ferries.
Guidance is provided on:
- fire detection
- firefighting measures for electric vehicles onboard
- carriage of electric vehicles other than cars
- carriage of damaged electric vehicles
- charging of electric vehicles onboard
We recognise that the UK arrangements are national, but this guidance is consistent with/drawn from SOLAS and therefore could be more widely applicable.
There are currently no requirements from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) specific to the carriage of electric vehicles on passenger or cargo ro-ro vessels. The UK guidance is provided in advance of any potential future regulation which may be developed at the IMO. ICHCA will of course engage with any such IMO work.”