Blogs
Perspectives on maritime safety, RoRo operations, the insurance climate, and how we are thinking about the next few years of the trade.
Can an Autonomous Ship Fight a Deck Fire?
The IMO's MASS Code took effect 1 July 2026. On a reduced-crew car carrier, detection stops being an early warning and becomes the response itself.
Can You Ship a Damaged EV Battery?
Yes — under SP 376, one of the IMDG Code's strictest regimes. Yet the same damaged pack, still inside a car on a ro-ro deck, can sail undeclared.
Do Pure-EV Car Carriers Change the Risk?
Carmakers like BYD now run near-fully-electric car carriers — BYD Shenzhen holds 9,200 vehicles. That concentrates the fire load, but also the knowledge.
Is There a Cargo Insurance Clause for EVs?
No standard Institute EV clause exists. Cargo insurance covers an EV fire as fire, but underwriters manage lithium risk through exclusions and conditions.
Are Heavier EVs Outgrowing the Car Deck?
EVs run 10–30% heavier than petrol cars, so a car deck can hit its weight limit before its space limit — and much of the fleet wasn't designed for it.
Can a Master Be Prosecuted After a Fire?
Masters get detained and charged after casualties. IMO/ILO fair-treatment guidelines are non-binding, and the crew answers for undeclared cargo.
EVs Got a New UN Number — Does It Help?
From IMDG 42-24, lithium EVs ship as UN 3556, not the generic UN 3171. But SP 961 still exempts them on a ro-ro, so the code rarely reaches the deck.
Can a Ro-Ro Still Carry Grid Battery Cargo?
IMDG 42-24 moved UN 3536 battery energy storage to on-deck stowage only. On a ro-ro, most of the ship is enclosed — which narrows the deck.
Is There a Charter Clause for EV Cargo?
Not yet. BIMCO's Carriage of Electric Vehicles Clause 2026 is only in drafting, so EV fire risk on car carriers still sits in bespoke riders.