What’s already happening? Case studies from the industry 

The panel discussion at the PSS / Chamber of Shipping EV conference titled: ‘what’s already happening: case studies from the industry’, had representatives from ports, shipping and the fire and rescue service, who started by giving presentations on the work their organisations have been doing with Electric Vehicles (EVs). 

Euan Beynon, Head of Maritime for CalMac Ferries discussed the operational challenges with carrying EVs on their ferries, including tracking the number of EVs, managing the risks associated with them, and addressing the lack of specific guidance for dealing with EV fires. He shared CalMac’s experiences with vehicle incidents and their steps in risk management, such as issuing bulletins and prohibiting vehicle charging on board. 

Jerry Male, the Head of Health and Safety at The Bristol Port Company, presented with Chris Bellingham, Station Manager from Avon Fire and Rescue, on the multi-agency exercise carried out to simulate a fire on a vessel. The exercise involved fire services and other agencies, testing their emergency response and evacuation procedures. They emphasised the importance of collaboration with external agencies and highlighted the practical challenges faced during real-world exercises, including managing personnel safety and using new equipment to handle damaged vehicles. Chris emphasised the importance of regular training to handle the unique challenges of fires on ships. 

“I think for a safer approach for a fire and rescue service, we need to accept that there’s not one size fits all, he said.  

“We can’t use a prescriptive set of instructions for these incidents, we need agile commanders who will liaise with port personnel and other blue light partners.” 

The final member of the panel was the Group EHS Director for Peel Ports Group, Chris Ingham, who expanded the conversation beyond just EV fires, discussing the broader challenges of transitioning to EVs in port environments. He touched on issues like the suitable positioning of charging infrastructure, range anxiety, the high upfront costs of transitioning to electric fleets, and restrictions in using EVs in fuel storage areas. He also highlighted the importance of careful risk assessments and training for use and maintenance of electric plant, such as forklifts and terminal tractors. 

Following these presentations, the discussion opened with the question of how prepared the panel felt after the day’s presentations, particularly around the risks associated with lithium-ion battery fires. 

Jerry opened by saying he found the discussions reassuring and felt that Bristol port was moving in the right direction regarding EV fire preparedness. However, he acknowledged that there were still many unanswered questions on how to handle such incidents. 

Chris Ingham agreed; “I’ve learned quite a lot today,” he said. “We’ve got some great minds in the room, across all the organisations and I would like to see collaboration across the ports so that we are not working in silos. I think we’ve done good things but there’s a lot more to be done.” 

Chris Bellingham reiterated the need for collaboration, noting that working together between ports and emergency services is essential for improving response capabilities. He discussed the limitations of current resources and highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and lessons learned from exercises like the one conducted at Bristol. 

Euan raised additional concerns, especially for ferries that operate in remote areas. He shared his thoughts on evacuation procedures, particularly around passenger safety and the logistics of handling such emergencies away from shore. 

The panel agreed on the importance of training, with Jerry and Chris Bellingham both speaking about the practical challenges of running large-scale exercises involving EV fires on vessels. There was the general consensus that more regular training and drills, especially involving fire and rescue services, is necessary to ensure preparedness. The discussion also touched on the need for better collaboration between ports and shipping lines during these exercises to ensure a coordinated response.