Reminder! Electric Vehicle Battery Must Be Below 50% When Transported by Ship
The increasing sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are impacting the requirements for inter-island vehicle transportation. During holiday seasons, electric vehicles are frequently transported via ships to Sumatra, Bali, and other regions.
This trend has brought the safety aspects of transporting electric vehicles to the forefront of attention. The Ministry of Transport currently utilises a circular letter as the basis for regulating the transport of electric vehicles via ships.
Samsuddin, Director of Shipping and Seamanship at the Ministry of Transport, stated that the regulation already includes provisions regarding the procedures for transporting electric vehicles, including their placement on the ship.
“As of today, the regulation is still in the form of a circular letter. Within that circular, the procedures for transporting electric vehicles are clearly regulated, starting from the placement of the vehicle on the ship. Electric vehicles must be placed on an open deck and must not be located in the lower car deck,” Samsuddin said at the Ministry of Transport on Friday (11/09/26).
In addition to the placement location, the battery condition of the vehicle is also a primary concern before transport. This provision relates to both safety aspects and ensuring the vehicle remains operational after disembarking from the ship.
“Furthermore, the vehicle’s battery level during transport must not exceed 50%. The purpose is to ensure that after the vehicle leaves the ship, there is sufficient power to drive to the nearest PLN charging station (SPKLU),” Samsuddin explained.
Ships must also possess space that can be used for emergency handling. The readiness of firefighting equipment is another part of the safety standards that must be met.
“Additionally, there must be an open space available for mitigation or handling in the event of an issue with the vehicle. Furthermore, fire extinguishing equipment appropriate to the characteristics of electric vehicles must be available.”
On the operator side, PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry stated that they have been implementing the provisions contained in the circular letter. The company prepares all necessary safety requirements from the moment electric vehicles enter the loading process.
Windy Andale, Corporate Secretary of PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry, stated that specialised equipment has also been prepared to anticipate issues related to electric vehicles.
“We have also prepared the availability of fire extinguishing equipment because it requires specialised tools. One of these is fire blankets, which we have provided. So far, the reference regulation is indeed still in the form of the aforementioned circular letter,” Windy said at the Ministry of Transport.