Another Shipping Firm Bans EVs, Hybrids on Passenger Vessels

CALAPAN CITY — A second sea travel company has prohibited its vessels from ferrying electric vehicles amidst ongoing investigations into an alleged explosion that ignited the September 9 fire that engulfed a Coron-bound ship and killed 77 of its passengers. Island Water has imposed an immediate ban on hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs) on its passenger vessels. This move by Island Water follows a similar prohibition by another shipping firm after the maritime incident that claimed 77 lives. The probe into the fire that gutted the passenger vessel is still ongoing, with investigators looking into the possibility that an EV or hybrid vehicle may have been the source of an explosion. The ban is a safety measure implemented by the shipping company to ensure the well-being of its passengers and crew. Island Water is a domestic shipping firm that operates passenger vessels in various routes in the Philippines. The incident has raised concerns about the safety protocols for transporting alternative fuel vehicles on passenger ships, especially as the country aims to promote the use of EVs.