Montenegro Shipping Lines has banned fully electric and hybrid vehicles from boarding its ships. The measure is being implemented as a precautionary measure after a fire started on board the MV June Aster en route to Coron, Palawan, last September 9, 2026. The tragedy resulted in 77 deaths, while 43 people survived and eight remain missing.
In a report by GMA, Montenegro issued a statement saying the safety precaution is implemented to “minimize the risk of fire, explosion, thermal runaway, and other potential hazards associated with electric and hybrid vehicle batteries during vessel operations.” The shipping line is taking strict measures, coordinating with the operations department, terminal, ticketing, loading, and cargo personnel for proper implementation.
However, according to the Department of Energy, the investigations have yet to confirm that the fire was started by the EV onboard the ship, stating: “There was an electric vehicle in the vessel in Coron. But there were also internal combustion engines. That’s why there’s no finding yet that the fire was caused by the electric vehicle.” According to the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), survivors said they heard two successive explosions before the fire erupted.
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As of writing, the DOE and authorities are working to issue safety regulations specifically for the transportation of EVs. “We already coordinated with MARINA on the matter. There’s an ongoing review, at the interagency level, to update the rules and regulations with respect to the transport of electric vehicles,” said DOE Energy Utilization Management Bureau director Patrick Aquino.
