This study probes the probabilistic features of major fire hazards in enclosed spaces to establish their importance to the occurrence of fires onboard Ro-ro passenger ships and, in turn, to raise effective operational countermeasures. Distinct from the previous studies, the present research employs Bayesian Network (BN) analysis to determine the probabilities of fire hazards more effectively. The results of the first 10 important basic events obtained by the BN model are divided into five groups (Vehicle electrical fires, Reefer vehicle fires, Vehicle-carried cargo fires, Potential causal factors of fire for LIB vehicles, and Vehicle fires originating from human factors), Which prompts the authors to propose preventive measures for mitigating the possibility of fire occurrence on this type of electric vehicle. It is hoped that these measures can be essential justifications for establishing relevant rules regarding carrying LIB vehicles in enclosed spaces on an international level.

This study probes the probabilistic features of major fire hazards in enclosed spaces to establish their importance to the occurrence of fires onboard ro-ro passenger ships and in turn to raise effective operational countermeasures. Distinct from the previous studies, the present research employs Bayesian Network (BN) analysis to determine the probabilities of fire hazards more effectively. The findings of the research include five critical basic events (BE) identified namely, vehicle engine fire (fuel system fault), vehicle electric fire (electrical equipment defect or short circuit), used car electrical fire, reefer units electrical fire (electrical appliances defects or short circuit), and cargo spontaneous combustion. Additionally, the risk of fire for lithium - ion battery powered vehicles is also highlighted in the process of BN analysis, which prompts the authors to propose preventive measures for mitigating the possibility of fire occurrence on this type of electric vehicles. It is hoped that these measures can be essential justifications for establishing relevant rules regarding carrying LIB vehicles in enclosed spaces on international level.