Following Moeldoko's Protest, Ministry of Transportation Explores Dedicated Vessels for EV Transport
The transport of electric vehicles via sea vessels has become a serious concern for the shipping industry. This is due to the specific characteristics of batteries, which require different safety procedures compared to conventional vehicles.
This issue surfaced after the Chairman of the Indonesian Electric Vehicle Industry Association (Periklately), Moeldoko, complained that ship operators are still reluctant to transport electric vehicles. This situation is considered a potential hindrance to distribution, particularly for EV manufacturers that do not yet have sufficient volume to operate their own vessels. On the other hand, ship operators face technical risks that cannot be ignored. Electric vehicles require specific placement on ships with higher levels of supervision, including attention to air circulation and emergency response readiness.
“Electric vehicles being loaded onto ships will be placed in specific areas where we maintain a higher level of vigilance for anticipation. However, we will also continue to implement efforts so that, in the future, there could be dedicated ships specifically for transporting electric vehicles,” said the Acting Director General of Sea Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Lollan Andi Sutomo Panjaitan, during the Forwahub Workshop on Friday.
The need for special procedures is increasingly important because the fire risk of EV batteries differs from those of fuel-powered vehicles. Operators must not only ensure vehicles are placed in safe positions but also prepare mitigation steps in case problems arise during the journey.
The General Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the Association of National Entrepreneurs for River, Lake, and Ferry Transport (GAPASDESS), Khoiri Soetimentow, mentioned that such regulations are already being implemented by operators. Electric vehicles intended for crossing are required to arrive earlier so that officers can determine vehicle positioning based on ship conditions and safety needs.
“The Directorate General of Sea Transportation has issued a circular regarding the loading of electric vehicles. One requirement is that vehicles crossing via ship must prepare themselves earlier. Secondly, they must also reduce their battery charge; the battery should not be at 100 percent capacity,” said Khoiri.
Vehicle placement is also a crucial part of risk mitigation. Operators are considering areas with good air circulation equipped with monitoring, while crew readiness is another determining factor in the event of an emergency.
“Since, as of today, there is no technology to extinguish electric vehicle fires as easily as other vehicles, they must be placed in positions where, if we are unable to extinguish a fire immediately, we can easily push them overboard into the sea,” added Khoiri.
GAPASDESS, together with the Indonesian Classification Bureau (BKI), has also held discussions regarding the standards for ships capable of transporting electric vehicles. Ships that meet safety requirements will eventually be able to obtain compliance certification, while operators are still required to ensure that the transported EVs do not increase risks to passengers, crew, or the vessel.
“This means that if we are currently selecting, sorting, and regulating, it does not mean we are rejecting electric vehicles from Periklindo or Aismoli, but we want to ensure that it is safe,” said Khoiri.
Previously, Moeldoko stated that businesses are currently facing difficulties when attempting to ship electric vehicles via sea vessels. “Because currently, entrepreneurs in that sector, whether they want to send electric motorcycles, trucks, or passenger vehicles, are facing prohibitions on sea vessels,” he said.