After a transport ship carrying new electric vehicles from China to Mexico caught fire and later sank off the Aleutian Islands last month, a retired Alaska marine biology professor asked the state ferry system if it had a plan, or a policy, dealing with EVs aboard the vessels.

Turns out the Alaska Marine Highway System has a policy — which has been in place since April 2024 — that as a safety precaution limits each sailing to two EVs on the car deck.

The transport ship, the Morning Midas, was carrying more than 700 fully electric and hybrid electric vehicles when the fire ignited in the area of the ship holding the EVs. The crew was unable to control the fire and abandoned ship. The vessel later sank in 16,000 feet of water, more than 300 miles southwest of Adak.

Alaska Transportation Commissioner Ryan Anderson responded to Steiner’s inquiry, explaining that the ferry system began developing an EV policy in 2023, working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and a maritime safety expert.

Key aspects of the policy include limiting the number of EVs per sailing to align with onboard firefighting capability, screening all EVs for signs of battery damage or reconstruction before boarding, specialized stowage away from combustibles, enhanced response tools and crew training and drills, including specialized EV fire response training for crew members.

The ferry system also implemented a rigorous process to manage EV transport, Anderson said. EV bookings are reviewed twice daily to determine if the two-vehicle limit is exceeded. Customers are contacted and rebooked as needed.

In addition, animals are not allowed to remain in EVs during transit, aligning with car deck safety policies.

“We recognize that this is a fast-evolving area of transportation and marine safety,” Anderson said. “Our policy is designed as a living document, informed by global standards, real-world incidents, and stakeholder input. We will continue to monitor international developments … and align our standards accordingly.”