ECG — 2026-01-23
News from ECG
The ECG Quality Working Group held its largest meeting to date on 21 January, with broad participation from ECG members, partners and OEMs. The discussions focused on current quality and safety challenges in vehicle logistics, with particular emphasis on the safe transport of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) on Ro-Ro vessels.
With the growing share of electric vehicles in global new vehicle sales, their presence in maritime transport is increasing accordingly. This development has intensified the attention of regulators, insurers, researchers and industry stakeholders on potential safety risks, especially those related to vehicle fires on board ships. The meeting underlined that this issue is no longer theoretical but already of direct operational and regulatory relevance.
A comprehensive overview of the current state of research was provided by Anna Karlsson from RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, which acts as a bridge between academia and industry and is involved in several research projects related to the transport of Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) on Ro-Ro ships. She explained that the International Maritime Organisation currently has an open agenda item addressing fire risks associated with ships carrying AFVs, particularly Battery Electric Vehicles, and that the proportion of such vehicles in maritime transport is expected to continue to grow.
Based on the scientific findings available to date, the heat release curves of internal combustion engine vehicles and Battery Electric Vehicles are similar, with comparable peak heat release values. The main contributor to the fire load of a vehicle is the plastic content, which can account for approximately 3–7 GJ of energy, whereas a 45 kWh battery or around 30 litres of petrol represents roughly 1 GJ. The amount of plastic used in vehicles has increased significantly over recent decades and plays a major role in fire development.
A vehicle fire in a Ro-Ro cargo space represents an extremely challenging scenario. Vehicles are parked in close proximity, allowing horizontal fire spread to occur more quickly than the 12-minute timeframe often used in calculations, with practical experience indicating a spread closer to 10 minutes. For vertical fire spread, a value of 10 minutes is also applied. In addition, the large open cargo spaces with ample oxygen supply create favourable conditions for fire growth, making early detection and rapid response critically important.
Anna Karlsson also informed participants that RISE is coordinating a new research initiative, the STARRS project (Safe Transport of AFVs on Ro-Ro Ships). The project aims to address existing knowledge gaps and to develop recommendations for industry guidance as well as input for future International Maritime Organisation instruments. STARRS runs from 2025 until the end of 2027 and is funded by the European Maritime Safety Agency. Its first deliverable, a technical and regulatory review, was published in November last year. The next phases of the project will include experimental and numerical campaigns focusing on high-expansion foam systems and the early detection of fire root causes, followed by consultations with a wider group of maritime stakeholders. ECG will monitor the project closely and report back to the Quality Working Group.
The insurance perspective was presented by Geir Jørgensen from the International Group of P&I Clubs, which represents twelve marine insurance associations worldwide. He explained the background and objectives of the Vessel Carrier Safety Forum, which was established in 2020 within the Ship Technical Committee. The forum has since expanded and now includes shipping lines, brokers and consultants, ports, regulators, emergency services and OEMs.
One of the key activities of the Vessel Carrier Safety Forum is the organisation of training and emergency drills, which are considered among the most important elements of effective fire protection. High-level principles for drills have been agreed and standard drill templates developed, with a particular focus on the early and correct activation of firefighting systems, ideally within 10 to 15 minutes after the first alarm. At the same time, the importance of ship-specific drills was emphasised, as every vessel has unique characteristics, and the involvement of local ports and fire brigades is essential. The forum also follows developments in new fire detection and verification technologies and monitors research projects that can provide additional scientific evidence.
Regulatory developments at International Maritime Organization level were outlined by George Charalampidis from the World Shipping Council. He explained that the World Shipping Council coordinated an informal correspondence group on the safe transport of vehicles within the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC) during the summer. The group proposed amendments to the IMDG Code through the introduction of a new Special Provision, SP 980, aimed at preventing unsafe vehicles from being loaded on board ships. The provision does not apply to Ro-Pax and Ro-Ro passenger ships.
Under SP 980, a mandatory assessment of the safety condition of a vehicle will be required before it is offered for transport, placing the responsibility for the assessment and any resulting prohibition on the consignor. This approach is intended to allow for effective corrective action before loading. The proposed Special Provision is expected to be considered for approval by the IMO in 2026, with voluntary application starting on 1 January 2027 and mandatory application one year later. How SP 980 will be implemented in practice remains to be seen, and it is likely that industry guidance or good practice documents will need to be developed. ECG will closely follow these developments and keep its members and OEMs informed.
In addition to fire safety and regulatory matters, the meeting addressed operational challenges related to vehicle immobilisation during transport due to flat batteries. In this context, the Digital Battery Passport, which will become mandatory under the EU Battery Regulation from February 2027, was discussed as a potential future tool. Participants also highlighted the increasing complexity of vehicle handling requirements. To help manage this complexity, ECG is working to consolidate OEM requirements into structured overview tables. The table on the State of Charge of high-voltage batteries is currently under revision, while tables covering parking requirements and loose items are already available on the ECG website.
The meeting concluded with a tour of the terminal facilities.
The next meeting of the ECG Quality Working Group is scheduled for June 2026, with the exact date and venue to be confirmed. For further information or to become involved in the group’s activities, interested parties are invited to contact Szilvi Kiss.
The ECG Quality Working Group would like to express its sincere thanks to Antwerp Euroterminal for hosting the meeting and to Sallaum Lines for sponsoring the networking dinner, both of which contributed significantly to the success of the event.