A tragic incident occurred in the waters off the coast of the Netherlands as a cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 automobiles, including around 300 Mercedes-Benz vehicles, caught fire. Unfortunately, one crew member lost their life in the early morning blaze. The entire crew, consisting of 23 seafarers, including the injured, was successfully rescued by helicopters and lifeboats.
Among the vehicles on board the ship, named Fremantle Highway, there were 25 electric cars. It is suspected that one of these electric vehicles may have been the source of the fire, which authorities fear could continue burning for days. The Dutch coast guard is currently working diligently to contain the blaze and minimize the damage caused.
This incident is reminiscent of a maritime disaster last year, when a cargo ship carrying 4,000 Volkswagen vehicles bound for the U.S. caught fire and subsequently sank in rough waters despite rescue efforts. Volkswagen is aware of the current situation, though no further information is available at this time.
The fire on the Fremantle Highway broke out around midnight, approximately 27 kilometers north of Ameland, one of the northern Wadden islands. The ship, which is registered under the Panama flag, was en route to Port Said in Egypt after a recent stop in the German port of Bremerhaven. As of 5:20 p.m. local time, the ship was still engulfed in flames, and emergency services were working to limit the damage as much as possible.
The cause of the fire on the 10-year-old ship remains unknown, and authorities are unable to confirm if there is any fuel leakage. As a safety precaution, a temporary flight ban has been implemented in the area, and measures have been taken to address the potential for an oil leak.
The Fremantle Highway, measuring approximately 200 meters in length, has the capacity to carry up to 4,000 cars. The vessel, currently in a controlled position, will continue to be closely monitored and efforts will be made to ascertain the cause of the fire and prevent further damage.