Steam Packet Can Handle EV Fires

Treasury Minister Dr Alex Allinson has told the Keys that the Steam Packet complies with all regulations around vehicle fires and he is confident they can contain an electric vehicle fire.

Dr Allinson was quizzed on the matter by Stu Peters (Middle) and Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew).

He said that all Steam Packet vessels comply with the relevant legislation and they are all ‘tested and certified annually’ by the Ship Registry.

Dr Allinson added: ‘The company has taken into consideration the advice contained in the UK’s Maritime Guidance note for future planning and are therefore confident that should any fire involving a fossil fuelled or EV take place on board, the staff and crew of the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company will be able to safely contain it.’

Following a supplementary question from Mr Peters about the Norwegian shipping company which banned electric and hybrid vehicles from its ships, Dr Allinson said the company had probably shown an ‘abundance of caution’ but said that the specifics about this route, being that it takes 12 days, also led to the ban.

Following a further question from Mr Moorhouse, Dr Allinson said they must be mindful it was one company that made a ‘logistical decision’ to ban electric and hybrid vehicles and that despite this ban, the company operates ferries that have the world’s largest battery pack on a passenger ship.

Mr Peters also asked the minister about the heat which the fires can burn at and how this could risk the structural integrity of the Steam Packet vessels, however Dr Allinson said that research in Denmark showed that the risk was low.

He added: ‘The new Manxman will have static heat detection cameras throughout the vehicles decks as an extra safety procedure.’

Mr Peters said he had been ‘reassured’ by the update from Dr Allinson, but did ask what, as a doctor, the minister believed the potential danger was for people who may inhale the fumes from a electric vehicle fire.

Dr Allinson said that ‘noxious fumes are obviously an issue for all of those fires’ and added that EVs carry the extra risk of shocks from those fires. However, he said the Steam Packet has taken this onboard and that as electric vehicles ‘are the future, adaptations will need to be made’.