“K” LINE Conducts First Real Vehicle Fire Test To Improve Car Carrier Safety

Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE) has conducted a fire extinguishing test simulating a vehicle fire inside a car carrier, marking the company’s first test involving an actual burning vehicle.

The exercise took place on October 17, 2025, at the fire extinguishing test building of the Technical Center of Kashiwa Tech Co., Ltd. in Bando City, Ibaraki Prefecture.

The test aimed to study effective ways to extinguish fires that may occur in the holds of car carriers and to establish improved firefighting tactics.

During the test, a scrapped gasoline-powered car was deliberately set on fire to replicate real conditions during an onboard vehicle blaze.

A total of 25 people participated in the exercise, practising firefighting techniques using both the standard fire hose nozzles installed on car carriers and a newly developed nozzle designed for improved spray performance.

The drill also included a demonstration, with support from the Maritime Disaster Prevention Center, showcasing a specially shaped nozzle capable of spraying water directly inside a vehicle to combat fires more efficiently.

According to “K” LINE, this live-fire test provided a valuable opportunity for participants to understand how quickly a vehicle can catch fire and to experience first-hand the most effective firefighting methods to control such situations.

The company has also expressed its intention to carry out further verification tests to strengthen fire response capabilities for different types of vehicles, including electric vehicles.

As fires on car carriers have become a growing concern in recent years, “K” LINE said it will continue improving its fire safety measures and work to protect customers’ valuable cargo.

Reference: KLine

Source: Maritime Shipping News