According to recent reports from foreign media, Matson has announced that it will suspend the transportation of battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles due to the classification of lithium-ion batteries as hazardous materials.
This notice takes effect immediately. In a letter to customers, Matson stated, “Due to growing concerns about the safety of transport vehicles powered by large lithium-ion batteries, Matson will suspend the acceptance of both old and new electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles for transportation on its vessels. Effective immediately, we have stopped accepting new bookings for this type of cargo on all routes.”
In fact, Matson has previously taken proactive measures to address the technical challenges of transporting electric vehicles. The company has established an “Electric Vehicle Safety Transport Working Group” and has collaborated with external organizations to study safety standards for the transportation of electric vehicles and lithium batteries. It has also developed onshore lithium battery handling procedures, including review mechanisms and checklists for the transportation of old batteries. For vessel transportation, it has created procedures on how to extinguish lithium fires and prevent their occurrence.
In the letter to customers, Matson also stated, “Matson continues to support industry efforts to establish comprehensive standards and procedures to address the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries at sea, and we plan to resume accepting them once appropriate safety solutions that meet the requirements are implemented.”
Industry analysts believe that Matson’s suspension of service may be related to recent electric vehicle fire incidents, including the recent sinking of the car carrier “Morning Midas,” which was carrying a large number of electric and hybrid vehicles.
Unlike roll-on/roll-off ships, Matson uses container shipping for automobiles on some routes, making it more difficult to monitor battery conditions and leaving less room for emergency response, which further increases the fire risk. This difference is also believed to be a key reason for Matson’s decision to suspend this type of transportation.
In recent years, there have been several notable vehicle transport fires, including the “Fremantle Highway” incident in 2023, the “Felicity Ace” in 2022, and the “Sincerity Ace” in 2018, prior to the “Morning Midas” accident. The “Morning Midas” incident has once again raised concerns about the risks associated with lithium-ion batteries in maritime transport.
We also remind shipowners and freight forwarders involved in related businesses to stay informed about the latest changes to avoid unnecessary losses.
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Post time: Jul-30-2025
