Matson has not resumed shipping electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles to Hawaii and has no timeline for lifting its suspension, report the Honolulu Star Advertiser.
The company halted EV shipments on July 14, citing fire risks from lithium-ion batteries. Matson supports industry efforts to develop safety standards and will resume EV transport only when appropriate solutions are in place.
Matson’s website confirms it does not transport battery-powered vehicles due to their hazardous classification. Lithium-ion batteries pose higher fire risks than combustion engines, and recent shipboard fires have raised global concerns.
Major incidents include the Fremantle Highway (2023), Felicity Ace (2022) and Sincerity Ace (2019), all involving EV-related fires. In June, the Morning Midas sank off Alaska after a fire linked to lithium-ion batteries; the crew escaped.
The International Maritime Organization is drafting regulations for EV transport, but final rules are not expected before 2027, according to the Maritime Technologies Forum.
For those needing to ship EVs, Pasha Hawaii offers service from San Diego to Honolulu under specific conditions and with a nonrefundable surcharge.
Separately, international online orders to Hawaii are being disrupted due to new US tariffs. President Donald Trump ended the “de Minimis” rule, which exempted imports under US$800 from duties.
The change, effective 29 August, has led postal agencies in countries including Japan to suspend shipments to the US, citing confusion over customs processing. The rule had previously been removed for China and Hong Kong.
