CDA
February 1, 2023
Neither electric cars, nor hybrids nor hydrogen. The Norwegian shipping company Havila Kystruten will not transport them due to their greater risk of fire,
Havila Kystruten, one of the main Norwegian shipping companies, has announced that it will not transport electric, hybrid or hydrogen cars on board for security reasons: they have more risk of fires.
“The decision was made after an external risk analysis carried out for us. The result of this analysis means that we have decided not to ship this type of vehicle for security reasons”, confirmed Lasse A. Vangstein, head of communication at Havila Kystruten.
The main concern lies in the fact that a fire in a vehicle that does not use fossil fuels poses a threat to the safety of passengers, crew and the ship. A) Yes, the fire of an electric car poses a greater risk of explosion and the release of toxic gases. This could force the immediate evacuation of the ship and, in the worst case, could result in the total breakdown of the ship.
Its maximum competitor will transport this type of car
Vangstein acknowledges that although fires in electric cars are statistically less common than in combustion cars, they can be more difficult to put out. If a fire breaks out in the battery pack of an electric car itself, large amounts of water and plenty of time to put out the flames.
You may be interested: How to put out a burning car
The shipping company affirms that they have not given up being able to transport electric cars in the future, but that the supply is currently being reduced to finally disappear. “We will never endanger the safety of passengers and crew. If we get such a clear conclusion about the risk assessment, the decision is very easy, even if it is difficult for some“They have explained from the company.
For his part, hurtigruten Havila Kystruten’s main competitor, has pointed out that it will continue to transport all kinds of cars on board its ships. ”We have been transporting cars between all ports for 40 years and we are doing well. We have no intention of stopping”, they have commented.
