March 30, 2023: A ship carrying 4,000 vehicles that sank within the Atlantic final yr after a suspected EV battery fireplace is unlikely to be recovered and the reason for the catastrophe stays a thriller, the ship’s proprietor mentioned . Journal of Vitality Storage immediately.
EVs are one of many autos on board Felicity Ace automotive service, which caught fireplace in February 2022 southwest of the Azores whereas crusing from Germany to the US.
A spokesman for MOL Shipmanagement Singapore, whose Automotive Carriers subsidiary owns the ship, mentioned the ocean depth at which the Felicity Ace sank whereas being towed in a failed rescue try was roughly 3,000 meters, making a possible salvage operation “very troublesome”.
The spokesperson declined to remark when requested if MOL has acquired claims for compensation associated to potential environmental hazards and lack of onboard autos – value an estimated $400 million-$500 million, based on the Evaluation of Security & Transport 2022, printed by company insurance coverage service Allianz World Company & Specialty (AGCS).
AGCS says that after greater than 70 reported fires on container ships alone within the final 5 years, a significant rethinking of ship designs, fireplace detection and fire- combating functionality may be required.
A MOL spokesman mentioned the corporate continued to move EVs, taking the required security measures, however declined to say whether or not the principles governing car cargo have been reviewed or modified after the Felicity Ace occasion.
Journal of Vitality Storage It was revealed in March 2022 that China known as on the Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO) to think about a change in maritime security guidelines for EVs shipped by sea, amid a rise in fires involving batteries. of lithium ion.
An IMO spokesperson mentioned Journal of Vitality Storage that proposals associated to fireside safety and coping with fires involving the transport of EV/new vitality autos are anticipated to be mentioned by the sub-committee on the group of ship programs and tools in subsequent yr.
In the meantime, in January, Norwegian delivery firm Havila Kystruten introduced it was banning electrical vehicles, hybrids and hydrogen autos on its ferries as a result of a possible fireplace hazard.
Traditionally, one in three EV fires have occurred for no obvious purpose whereas the car was parked, based on a 2021 report by analysis consultancy IdTechEx.
