Alaska shipping company becomes latest to ban transporting EVs on ships due to fire risks involving lithium-ion batteries
Published on Aug 27, 2025 at 9:12 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Aug 27, 2025 at 11:55 AM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
Alaska Marine Lines is the latest maritime shipping company to ban transporting EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles due to ‘increased safety concerns’.
The company said the decision was made due to the ‘increased complexity and fire risk associated with shipping large lithium-ion batteries’.
Japanese Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and the Norwegian ferry company Havila Krystruten were among the first to introduce a ban on transporting EVs.
Now, Alaska Marine Lines (AML) has joined a growing number of shipping companies to follow suit.
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Several companies have introduced a ban on transporting EVs
Although statistics show that ICE vehicles are more likely to catch fire than EVs, fires caused by Li-ion batteries are known to be more difficult to put out and are therefore more dangerous.
Alaska Marine Lines’ move to ban transporting EVs and plug-in hybrids comes after several high-profile maritime incidents involving Li-ion batteries catching fire.
Back in June, a cargo ship called Morning Midas sank off the coast of Alaska while carrying more than 3,000 vehicles, including 70 EVs and around 700 hybrids.
According to CTIF, the ship was travelling from China to Mexico when smoke was spotted coming from the EV deck.
Investigators working to determine the cause of the fire believe it started with Li-ion batteries.
In another incident in 2022, a car-carrying cargo ship called Felicity Ace was headed to the United States with around 4,000 cars onboard.
Three hundred of the cars were EVs and investigators believe it was one of these that started the fire.
The ship was burning for days before eventually sinking a week later.
Earlier this month, AML announced its ban on transporting EVs and plug-in hybrids.
“Although we have previously shipped EVs and PHEVs, the increased complexity and fire risk associated with shipping large lithium-ion batteries on vessels at sea has caused us to reevaluate how to best keep our employees and equipment safe,” the company said in a statement.
“While issues with lithium-ion batteries are infrequent, the inability to extinguish or contain this type of fire, especially while at sea, can lead to catastrophic results.”
Will the ban impact non-EVs?
The ban means all electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids will no longer be able to travel on AML, effective immediately, for Central Alaska, Western Alaska, and Hawaii, and will come into play on September 1, 2025 for Southeast Alaska.
The company said it will continue to ship hybrid vehicles that do not plug in and gas/diesel cars.
The statement rounded out by saying the shipping company would continue to reassess its ‘ability to safely ship these vehicles as industry standards and safety procedures improve’.
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Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
