Hyundai Glovis deploys new fire safety system across EV carrier fleet
Consilium has reported that Hyundai Glovis is installing new onboard safety systems to tackle lithium-ion fire risks on electric vehicle carriers.
The Safety Management Interface Graphics (SMiG) system, developed by Consilium Safety Group, is being rolled out across Hyundai Glovis ships as part of a broader effort to address fire safety in EV shipping.
Hyundai Glovis, responsible for transporting over half of South Korea’s electric vehicle exports, began fitting the SMiG system in 2024.
The company aims to enhance real-time visibility for ship crews by combining data from heat and smoke detectors into a single visual map.
Real-time alerts improve fire response on large-scale cargo ships
The company explained that the system reduces response time by presenting smoke and heat data visually, enabling faster decision-making.
Consilium’s Global Product Manager, Isak Nordberg, said: “Data from across the ships is translated into something visual and actionable.
“It’s designed to give early warnings when every second counts, often giving crews up to four extra minutes.”
During a drill on the 65,000-ton vessel Sunrise, the SMiG system displayed a blinking red dot to mark the fire location in real time, contrasting with older systems that provided only approximate coordinates.
Nordberg stated: “Decisions that once depended on guesswork were now grounded in data.”
Fire detection systems to extend beyond maritime environments
According to Consilium, the long-term ambition for SMiG includes extending the system to land-based locations such as parking facilities and logistics hubs.
Nordberg added: “In a garage, four minutes might not be enough to act. But if we could stretch that to 12, firefighters might have a realistic chance of reaching the location on time.”
He noted that response times on land can be slower due to reliance on external emergency services, making early detection even more important in non-maritime settings.
Cross-sector data sharing identified as a future safety enabler
Consilium has proposed that increased collaboration with vehicle manufacturers could allow access to battery-level temperature data, potentially increasing early detection windows.
Nordberg explained: “Those four minutes of early detection might stretch to 12 if we had that data.”
He concluded: “This is the kind of innovation we must continue pursuing through collaborations to make places safer.”
EV battery fire risks tackled with new safety tech on Hyundai Glovis ships: Summary
Consilium has reported that Hyundai Glovis is rolling out a new safety system for its electric vehicle carrier ships.
The system is called Safety Management Interface Graphics (SMiG).
It compiles smoke and heat data into real-time visual maps for crew use.
It is intended to help identify and respond to lithium-ion battery fires faster.
Hyundai Glovis transports more than 50 percent of South Korea’s EV exports.
Consilium said the SMiG system can provide up to four extra minutes for fire response.
A recent fire drill on the vessel Sunrise demonstrated the system’s real-time capabilities.
The company is exploring potential applications in land-based locations such as garages.
Consilium suggested that access to battery data from vehicle manufacturers could further improve response times.
The manufacturer said that extended early detection windows could allow first responders to reach fire locations more effectively.