Ferry operators are carrying more electric and hybrid vehicles than ever before. That makes electric vehicle fire safety an important consideration for passenger ferries, ro-ro ferries and cargo vessels where vehicles are parked close together on enclosed or semi-enclosed decks.
An EV fire on a ferry can create serious challenges. Smoke and heat may spread quickly, access can be restricted, passengers and crew may be nearby, and surrounding vehicles or infrastructure can be affected. For ferry operators, the priority is to isolate the incident as quickly as possible and reduce the risk of fire spreading across the car deck.
Fire Cloak works with ferry operators and maritime organisations to support safer carriage of electric vehicles. You can find out more about this sector here: Fire Cloak for ferries.
Why EV fires are a specific risk on ferries
Electric vehicles use high-voltage battery packs, most commonly lithium-ion batteries. If a battery is damaged, defective or exposed to abnormal conditions, individual cells can overheat and enter thermal runaway.
Thermal runaway is a chain reaction where heat spreads from one battery cell to neighbouring cells. Once this process begins, the fire can be extremely difficult to control. It can produce intense heat, large volumes of smoke and potentially harmful gases.
On a ferry, those risks are amplified by the environment. Vehicles may be parked tightly together, emergency access may be limited, and the vessel may be at sea when an incident develops. Any fire involving an electric vehicle must therefore be planned for carefully.
Guidance on alternative-fuel vehicles in ro-ro spaces
The European Maritime Safety Agency has published guidance on the carriage of alternative-fuel vehicles in ro-ro spaces. This includes electric and hybrid vehicles and highlights the uncertainty that can exist around the fire characteristics of these vehicle types.
For ferry operators, the guidance reinforces the need for risk assessment. Each vessel and operating route may present different risks depending on layout, vehicle mix, passenger numbers, crew procedures and available firefighting equipment.
The focus should be on prevention, early identification and rapid containment. If smoke, heat or unusual sounds are detected from an electric vehicle battery area, crew need clear procedures and suitable equipment to help control the situation before it spreads.
Reignition risk after an EV fire
One of the challenges with damaged electric vehicles is reignition. An EV that has previously been involved in a battery fire can remain a risk after the visible flames have been controlled.
This is particularly important for ferry operators because a vehicle may be loaded after a previous incident, collision, recovery or repair. Damaged or unstable batteries should be treated with caution, and any suspected battery issue should be escalated before the vehicle is transported.
How EV fire blankets support ferry fire safety
Electric vehicle fire blankets, such as the Fire Cloak EV Fire Limitation Blanket, are designed to help contain heat, smoke and flames while emergency procedures are carried out.
On a ferry car deck, an EV fire blanket can help isolate the affected vehicle and reduce the risk of fire spreading to neighbouring vehicles. It can also help limit smoke movement and create a more controlled area for crew and emergency responders.
The aim is not simply to extinguish the fire immediately. With lithium-ion battery fires, the priority is often to limit escalation, protect people and property, and prevent a single-vehicle incident from becoming a deck-wide emergency.
Where fire blankets should be considered on ferries
Ferry operators should consider EV fire blankets as part of a wider risk assessment for car decks and ro-ro spaces. Important considerations include:
- how many electric and hybrid vehicles are typically carried;
- whether vehicles are parked in enclosed or semi-enclosed areas;
- how quickly crew can identify smoke, heat or battery noise;
- where fire blankets can be stored for fast access;
- how crew will safely deploy the blanket;
- how the vessel’s wider fire procedures support EV incidents;
- how damaged or suspect vehicles are handled before loading.
Fire Cloak installed on the Isle of Wight Floating Bridge
The Fire Cloak EV Fire Limitation Blanket has been installed on the Isle of Wight Floating Bridge, supporting passenger and employee health and safety on the water.
Fire Cloak EV fire blanket installed on the Isle of Wight Floating Bridge
Ferry operators using Fire Cloak
Fire Cloak is already being used by ferry operators that want to strengthen EV fire safety on board their vessels.
NorthLink Ferries added Fire Cloak EV Fire Limitation Blankets to its ferries as part of its ongoing commitment to passenger and crew safety.
NorthLink Ferries get on board with Fire Cloak EV Fire Limitation Blanket
Condor Ferries also added Fire Cloak EV fire blankets to its roll-on-roll-off ferry fleet, helping protect passengers, crew and vehicles travelling on board. Read the full case study here: Condor Ferries Fire Cloak case study.
Fire Cloak EV Fire Limitation Blanket in situ on a ro-ro Condor ferry
Irish Ferries is another operator that has added Fire Cloak to its fleet, further underlining its commitment to health and safety for passengers and staff. Read more here: Irish Ferries Fire Cloak case study.
Fire Cloak on board Irish Ferries’ MV Oscar Wilde
Preparing ferry crews for EV fire incidents
Equipment is only one part of EV fire safety. Ferry operators also need clear procedures and trained crew who understand how to respond if smoke, heat, popping sounds or other warning signs are identified around an electric vehicle.
Fire blankets should be stored where they are visible and accessible, and crew should understand when and how they may be deployed as part of the vessel’s wider emergency response plan.
EV fire safety at sea needs practical planning
As the number of electric and hybrid vehicles continues to rise, ferries will carry more alternative-fuel vehicles on a daily basis. That makes EV fire planning a practical operational requirement, not a future concern.
By combining risk assessment, crew training and suitable containment equipment, ferry operators can reduce the risk of one electric vehicle fire escalating into a much larger incident.
