Prompted by recent fire incidents aboard vessels carrying electric vehicles (EVs), a leading operator in the deep-sea trades has strengthened measures to reduce fire risks.

Hoegh Autoliners has implemented a series of proactive steps to augment existing safety strategies and help mitigate danger on its existing fleet of pure/car truck carriers (PCTCs) as well as its 9,100 CEU-capacity Aurora-class newbuilds, due for delivery from 2024 onwards.

In addition to the intensified fire protection measures, the company said that it is currently not accepting transportation of secondhand EVs, because these may represent a higher risk.