NORWEGIAN ferry company Havila Kystruten, is changing is banning electric and dual fuel vehicles due to their heightened fire risk, reports Fort Lauderdale's Maritime Executive.
'A fire in electric, hybrid or hydrogen cars will require external rescue efforts and could put people on board and the ships at risk,' said Havila managing director Bent Martini.
He said his ships were built to meet all safety requirements, but believes the danger is too great from these new types of vehicles.
The company currently operates cruise ships designed to also transport vehicles under contract with the norwegian government.
Havila reports it requested an external assessment regarding the transport of cars and motor vehicles on board the company's coastal cruise ships based on its experience with the first year of service and to explore the potential dangers. They retained Proactima, a management consulting firm, to carry out the risk analysis.
'This is a pure safety assessment, and the conclusion of the risk analysis shows that a possible fire in fossil vehicles will be able to be handled by the systems and the crew we have on board,' said Mr Martini.
Cruise ships, he said, have battery powered systems installed in separate, fireproof rooms, with specific fire protection systems.
While the company will continue to transport fossil-fuel cars, they have also decided to limit the boarding and disembarking of private vehicles to only Bergen and Kirkenes, and not intermediate ports on the route.
Insurer Allianz warned about the dangers that lithium batteries citing four main hazards, including fire, explosion, toxic gases and the potential for thermal runaway from the transport of these batteries.
SeaNews Turkey
'A fire in electric, hybrid or hydrogen cars will require external rescue efforts and could put people on board and the ships at risk,' said Havila managing director Bent Martini.
He said his ships were built to meet all safety requirements, but believes the danger is too great from these new types of vehicles.
The company currently operates cruise ships designed to also transport vehicles under contract with the norwegian government.
Havila reports it requested an external assessment regarding the transport of cars and motor vehicles on board the company's coastal cruise ships based on its experience with the first year of service and to explore the potential dangers. They retained Proactima, a management consulting firm, to carry out the risk analysis.
'This is a pure safety assessment, and the conclusion of the risk analysis shows that a possible fire in fossil vehicles will be able to be handled by the systems and the crew we have on board,' said Mr Martini.
Cruise ships, he said, have battery powered systems installed in separate, fireproof rooms, with specific fire protection systems.
While the company will continue to transport fossil-fuel cars, they have also decided to limit the boarding and disembarking of private vehicles to only Bergen and Kirkenes, and not intermediate ports on the route.
Insurer Allianz warned about the dangers that lithium batteries citing four main hazards, including fire, explosion, toxic gases and the potential for thermal runaway from the transport of these batteries.
SeaNews Turkey
