CalMac pour cold water on EV fire fear
The senior figure in charge of safety across all CalMac ferries has insisted that the danger of electric vehicles catching fire is over-stated and that it doesn’t cause them any huge concern going forward.
Will Lins, CalMac’s head of maritime safety, gave a presentation to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar where he discussed the issue, against a backdrop of growing concern – reported recently in the Gazette – and action by other ferry companies elsewhere to restrict access.
Mr Lins did concede that the extra weight of EVs was a consideration but that it can be managed on a “case by case basis”.
In terms of the fire hazard of EVs, he told the council’s transport committee that they are 20 to 60 times less likely to catch fire than petrol or diesel vehicles.
He said that there are “a lot of comments out there about EVs and some are false”... “There’s a lot of myth about the whole thing.”
He also confirmed that EV fires can be extinguished conventionally, don’t produce more heat overall and that seawater is an effective firefighting medium.
“The overall fire risk from carrying electric vehicles is considered relatively low by industry and regulators,” Lins told councillors.
“EVs are not viewed as something to be particularly fearful of. We’re gaining understanding of them and are able to take a proportionate response.”
Mr Lins also confirmed that CalMac has invested in specialist firefighting equipment, including upgraded fire suits, undercar drenches, and fire blankets to address the hazards, and that all vessels have deluge systems and fixed firefighting apparatus.
However, he said that the weight of EVs was a growing concern for daily operations.
“The other thing that perhaps isn’t thought about so much because it’s not so spectacular or newsworthy is the fact they are just heavy,” he told councillors.
“That is probably the largest day-to-day thing that we may have to deal with – how do we get the best stow out of the mezzanine deck to get our customers from place to place? “
He said that CalMac would “deal with the additional weight factor on a case-by-case basis, which is a pretty small issue for us at the moment,” and said that the issue “hasn’t really bitten yet, but we are mindful of it at the same time.”
Mr Lins confirmed that CalMac avoids putting EVs on mezzanine decks if they have space on the main deck, stating: “You can’t necessarily have a deck full of EVs because it’s too heavy for the deck.”