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News from ECG
The ECG Quality Working Group held its latest meeting on 17 June, with broad participation from ECG members, partners and OEMs. The discussions focused on current quality and safety challenges in vehicle logistics, with particular emphasis on the safe transport of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) on Ro-Ro vessels and the growing number of regulatory, contractual and technical initiatives shaping future approaches to safety and risk management.
Anna Karlsson, Project Manager at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden provided an update on the STARRS project (Safe Transport of AFVs on Ro-Ro Ships). The project aims to address existing knowledge gaps and to develop recommendations for industry guidance as well as input for future International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments.
Several testing phases are planned over the coming months. High-expansion foam tests are scheduled for September, followed by fire detection tests in the autumn, covering various fire scenarios and detection technologies. Water mist tests will take place in November and December.
The findings are expected to support the development of future industry guidance and provide an evidence base for regulatory discussions concerning the safe transport of alternative fuel vehicles. Some preliminary insights will be shared at the Conference on Fire Safety at Sea (CFIS) on 1-2 December 2026. As part of the project, a series of industry stakeholder workshops will also be organised, and ECG will keep its members informed of opportunities to participate.
Regulatory developments at International Maritime Organization level were outlined by George Charalampidis from the World Shipping Council (WSC). He explained that the newly introduced Special Provision 980 requires a mandatory assessment of a vehicle's safety condition before it is offered for transport, effectively placing an additional layer of responsibility on the shipper.
The provision will be applied voluntarily from 1 January 2027, before becoming mandatory on 1 January 2028. However, practical operational guidelines have not yet been developed. To address this gap, the WSC plans to launch a broad stakeholder consultation, and ECG will keep members updated on opportunities to contribute.
Participants were also informed about a project currently being undertaken by BIMCO (Baltic and International Maritime Council) to develop a contractual clause addressing the maritime carriage of electric vehicles.
Lucas Alexander Low Pedersen explained that the clause is intended to establish a clear, practical framework for carrying EVs under charter parties and in logistics services contracts, commonly used for carriage onboard Ro-Ro vessels and PCTCs. The final clause is slated for adoption in October 2026. Once adopted, the clause could provide a common contractual reference point for the maritime transport of EVs.
Although the official consultation period has closed, further comments can still be submitted until the end of June.
The proposed clause stipulates that charterers should present vehicles in a manner that enables the vessel's Master to stow them safely according to vehicle type. It also references the maximum 50% State of Charge (SoC) level recommended in the 2022 EMSA Guidance, while noting that the SoC should be kept as low as technically safe and operationally feasible. In addition, vehicles must be accompanied by 24/7 emergency technical contact details.
Charterers should also confirm that the vehicles presented for shipment are suitable for carriage and that the EVs comply with international safety standards such as UN 38.3 and UNR100, GB38031 or FMVSS305.
These measures are intended to reduce the severity of potential battery-related incidents and to ensure that crews can access specialist technical support when needed. For example, expert guidance may be required when thermal cameras detect an overheated battery, helping crews determine whether the situation presents a genuine safety risk or reflects normal operating conditions.
Concluding the discussion on maritime EV transport, the participants noted that all key aspects of the topic had been addressed, including regulation, practical guidance, contractual frameworks and ongoing research. ECG will continue to monitor developments closely and report back to members of the Quality Working Group.
Rob Braund from Toyota Motor Europe explained the latest initiative under the joint oversight of the Rail Initiative and the Quality Working Group: the development of a Loading Guideline for Rail operations.
The project draws on the existing truck loading manual as a benchmark and aims to mitigate both Quality and Health & Safety risks associated with rail operations. The guideline will provide a clear, practical and easy-to-follow process document and is also expected to serve as a valuable training resource. The final draft is expected to be ready for review by the end of the year, following an intensive drafting process currently underway.
Meeting participants also reviewed the final draft for a document outlining the key features that LSPs recommend to incorporated into the Transport Mode of the vehicles. The initiative was prompted by daily operational challenges, such as obstructed driver visibility caused by labels, side mirrors that automatically unfold in confined spaces, non-functioning displays, or interfaces available only in non-European languages.
The document is intended to serve as a good-practice guide for OEM engineering teams, helping them better support vehicle logistics operations throughout the supply chain. By addressing practical issues encountered during transport, the recommendations aim to improve operational efficiency, reduce the risk of vehicle damage and enhance safety for drivers and operators.
Following a final internal review, the document is expected to be published shortly.
The next meeting of the ECG Quality Working Group is scheduled for November 2026, with the exact date and venue to be confirmed. ECG members and partners interested in contributing to the group’s work are encouraged to contact Szilvi Kiss.