Matson, one of the largest cargo transportation companies based in the U.S., announced the immediate and indefinite halt of all maritime transportation of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The carrier states that it is concerned about the increasing fire risks related to lithium-ion batteries. This decision now announced affects the routes between the American mainland, Hawaii, and Alaska, creating yet another logistical headache for companies in the automotive sector.
Unprecedented, this measure comes after a series of high-profile maritime transport fires, including the sinking of the Morning Midas in June 2025, which was carrying over 3,000 vehicles, including electric ones, and sank in the Pacific Ocean after a fire that lasted for weeks.
Although electric vehicles are not statistically more prone to fires than gasoline-powered vehicles, the fires they produce are significantly more intense and difficult to extinguish.
