On March 9, the IMO’s sub-committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE12) convened to revise the action plan for fire safety in vehicle and ro-ro spaces, focusing on ships carrying new-energy vehicles. The committee prioritized developing interim guidelines for fire safety measures specific to pure car and truck carriers and for video monitoring systems before drafting amendments to SOLAS. This work will continue in a Correspondence Group until SSE13 in March 2027, with potential SOLAS amendments expected to take effect by January 1, 2032.
Interferry, representing ferry operators, highlighted the critical issue of fires on ro-ro decks and its involvement in recent amendments to fire protection for ro-ro passenger ships. The IMO is now shifting its focus to fire risks in containers and cargo decks of vehicle carriers, particularly concerning electric vehicle (EV) fires. Interferry’s Director of Regulatory Affairs, Johan Roos, emphasized the need for tailored regulations, noting that existing CO2 systems may not adequately address EV fires.
The IMO’s priority is to develop solutions for EV fires in vehicle carriers, with potential implications for ro-ro and ro-pax ships. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns about compliance with video monitoring requirements for ro-pax ships, effective from 2026 and 2028, as members express uncertainty about implementation.
