Burning Ship Off Dutch Coast Holds 500 EVs

A burning car carrier ship off the Dutch coast was carrying 3,783 vehicles on board, including 498 battery-electric vehicles, reported ship charter company K Line.

Both BMW and Mercedes-Benz reported having cars among the cargo, according to an Automotive News article. 

The presence of EVs on the ship has challenged the rescue operation. According to maritime officials and insurers, the EV lithium-ion batteries onboard pose a significant risk because of their tendency to burn with twice the energy of a typical fire.

The car carrier, which was engulfed in flames, is now being towed to a safer location away from shipping routes and the wind, as reported by Rijkswaterstaat and local media.

According to a statement by Rijkswaterstaat, the towing operation will relocate the ship to a spot just north of the Dutch islands Ameland and Schiermonnikoog.

The towing operation started on Sunday. In the statement, they mentioned that the ship's arrival at its temporary destination would be influenced by the weather conditions, the development of smoke, the current, and the tide.

The fire that engulfed the Panamanian-registered Fremantle Highway resulted in the death of an Indian crew member and injury of seven crew members who jumped overboard to escape the flames, according to a CNN article. 

On Friday, the once-roaring flames on the Fremantle Highway had died down enough for salvagers to board the ship and assess the damage, Automotive News reported.

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today