A car carrier ship that caught fire near the Netherlands coast is reported to be carrying nearly 500 electric vehicles, according to the ship's operator. This number is significantly higher than previously estimated. The cause of the fire on the Fremantle Highway is still unknown, as stated by the Dutch coast guard, who initially reported that only 25 electric vehicles were on board.
Although it is unclear whether the presence of electric vehicles played a role in the fire, the quantity of EVs on board is crucial to managing the ongoing firefighting efforts. Fires involving lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in electric vehicles, burn at higher temperatures, are longer-lasting, and can be more challenging to extinguish compared to fires involving gasoline. There is also a risk of reignition hours or even days later.
However, there is some progress in controlling the fire. The temperature on board the Fremantle Highway has dropped significantly, and the smoke has dissipated, allowing salvage crews to board the vessel. A stronger connection has been established between the salvage company and their vessels, making it easier to keep the ship under control. The firefighting operation has been complicated by the need to avoid excessive water usage, which could destabilize the ship.
The car carrier is transporting a total of 3,783 vehicles, including 498 electric cars, as confirmed by the charterer, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd. Among the vehicles on board are several hundred BMW AG cars and approximately 300 Mercedes-Benz Group AG vehicles. It is yet to be confirmed whether Volkswagen AG also has cars on the carrier.
The ship, flying the Panama flag, was en route to Port Said, Egypt, after making a recent stop in the German port of Bremerhaven. Its final destination is Singapore, according to ship-tracking data. The vessel is owned by Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd., a Japanese company that also owned the Ever Given, the massive container ship that became stuck in the Suez Canal in March 2021.