Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has launched legal proceedings against US-based vehicle logistics provider CargoLoop, claiming improperly packed electric vehicles caused a fire aboard one of its container ships during a voyage from the United States to Europe.
The shipping company is seeking approximately US$273,000 in damages following the incident aboard the MSC Carlotta, which occurred in September 2023.
Lawsuit Follows Onboard Container Fire
According to court filings, the dispute centres on two 40-foot containers supplied and packed by CargoLoop that contained used battery-electric vehicles previously involved in accidents.
Cargo documentation identified the vehicles as dangerous goods, and MSC accepted the shipment based on the declared cargo information.
The containers were loaded using wooden support frames that allowed multiple vehicles to be stacked inside each unit.
MSC alleges a fire erupted in one of the containers while the vessel was sailing off the coast of Baja California before spreading to a second container carrying electric vehicles from the same shipment.
Emergency Response at Sea
The vessel’s crew successfully extinguished the fire, although several adjacent containers sustained damage from flames and firefighting operations.
Following the incident, the MSC Carlotta altered its voyage and called at a Mexican port, where the damaged containers were removed for inspection before the ship resumed its journey to Lithuania.
Investigation Points to Vehicle Collapse
MSC’s complaint states that investigators traced the likely origin of the fire to a section of the container where a 2018 Tesla Model S had been positioned above a 2012 Ford Focus Electric.
The company alleges the timber racking system failed during the voyage, allowing the upper vehicle to collapse onto the vehicle below, potentially damaging its lithium-ion battery and triggering thermal failure.
Investigators reportedly discovered similar structural failures in another CargoLoop-packed container carried on the same voyage.
Additional Safety Concerns Raised
MSC also argues that other factors may have contributed to the incident.
The company alleges batteries could have been damaged during cargo handling before loading or that recommended safety measures for transporting damaged electric vehicles—including battery isolation or disconnection—may not have been fully implemented.
The legal action seeks compensation for firefighting costs, cargo damage, vessel diversion expenses and other losses associated with the incident.
The case highlights growing scrutiny over the transportation of damaged electric vehicles by sea, as shipping companies and logistics providers continue adapting cargo handling practices to address the unique safety challenges posed by lithium-ion battery systems.
Source: MaritimeMagz
