Car Carrier Salvage Operation Underway Off Dutch Coast
Ship charter company K Line said there were 3,783 vehicles on board the ship, including 498 battery-electric vehicles.
Salvage Operation for Burning Car Carrier Underway Off Dutch Coast
A car carrier that caught fire off the Dutch coast is currently being towed to a new location away from shipping routes, according to the Dutch water board Rijkswaterstaat and media reports.
The ship, named Fremantle Highway, is being towed to a location 16 km north of the Dutch islands Ameland and Schiermonnikoog. The operation began on Sunday, but it is uncertain when the ship, which was en route from Germany to Egypt when the fire broke out, will reach its temporary destination. The timeframe depends on weather conditions, smoke development, currents, and tides.
Burning Car Carrier Situation
The fire on the Panamanian-registered Fremantle Highway resulted in the death of one Indian crew member and injured seven others who jumped overboard to escape the flames. The ship is owned by Japan’s Shoei Kisen and had a crew of 21, all of whom were Indian.
A spokesperson from Rijkswaterstaat stated that the temporary location will place the ship further away from shipping routes and slightly out of the wind. This relocation is part of a challenging salvage operation.
Ship charter company K Line reported that there were 3,783 vehicles on board, including 498 battery-electric vehicles. Notably, BMW and Mercedes-Benz confirmed that they have cars among the cargo.
Authorities reported that the fire has diminished in intensity, allowing salvagers to board the ship and secure stronger tow lines.
