Steamship Mutual has encouraged members operating RoRo ferries
or other vessels that may carry electric vehicles to share with their fleet a
recently released UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) Marine Guidance Note
MGN 653(M) Electric vehicles onboard
passenger /roll-off (ro-ro) ferries.
The guidance note from MCA is intended to raise awareness
of the risks and mitigations for the carriage of electric vehicles on board
passenger RoRos.
Guidance is provided on fire detection and firefighting
measures for electric vehicles onboard, the carriage of electric vehicles other
than cars, carriage of damaged electric vehicles and advice on the charging of
electric vehicles onboard.
Steamship Mutual noted that there were currently no
requirements from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) specific to the
carriage of electric vehicles on passenger or cargo ro-ro vessels. This
guidance is provided in advance of any potential future regulation which may be
developed at the IMO, which the UK would be engaged with.
