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Urgent notice from the shipping company: such cargo shipments will be suspended, and bookings will be halted! | Maritime Export Logistics
Jul 21,2025
Matson recently announced that it would suspend the transportation of electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) due to the potential fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries. This decision went into effect immediately, significantly impacting the company's vehicle transportation services between the United States mainland and Hawaii, Guam, and Alaska.
In a letter to customers, Matson stated that due to growing concerns about the safety of large lithium-ion batteries in vehicles, the company has decided to suspend all transportation bookings for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
According to data from the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Association, more than 37,000 electric vehicles have been registered in the state. Although Guam has not released specific data, local dealerships have expressed regret over the decision, believing that electric vehicles are well-suited for use in Guam.
Matson previously established the Electric Vehicle Safe Transportation Task Force to develop a sophisticated lithium battery handling procedure. On land, the company has established a lithium battery review process and a list for the transportation of used batteries; at sea, procedures have been established for the suppression and prevention of lithium fires, including the use of thermal imaging cameras to monitor temperature peaks and the deployment of Viking HydroPen firefighting tools, which can drill into containers to extinguish fires.
However, recent incidents of fires linked to electric vehicles, such as the Morning Midas fire off the Aleutian Islands, the 2023 Fremantle Highway fire, and the 2022 Felicity Ace shipwreck incident, have prompted Matson to make this decision.
The automotive industry has been working hard to establish new standards for electric vehicle transportation, but Matson's method of shipping cars in containers limits the ability to monitor vehicles in real-time, increasing the risk of fires.
Despite this, Matson has expressed its commitment to supporting the industry in developing comprehensive standards and procedures to address the fire risks associated with lithium-ion batteries at sea, and plans to resume operations once the necessary safety measures are in place.
For the time being, Matson will continue to transport conventional automobiles, offering cross-ocean services, as well as transporting containers between the various islands in Hawaii.
This decision has drawn widespread attention in the industry, highlighting the urgency of addressing safety concerns in electric vehicle transportation. As electric vehicles become more prevalent, ensuring their safety during maritime transport has become a pressing issue.
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