A cargo ship carrying nearly 3,000 cars caught fire off the coast of the Dutch island of Ameland, resulting in one sailor’s death and injuries to 22 others. The incident sparked a major salvage operation in an area designated as a World Heritage site in the North Sea.
The Dutch coastguard believes the fire may have been caused by one of the 25 electric vehicles onboard the ship. Dramatic photos shared by the coastguard showed the Panamanian-flagged Freemantle Highway engulfed in smoke and flames on the deck.
After leaving the port of Bremerhaven in Germany, the ship encountered trouble overnight, about 27km (17 miles) north of Ameland in the Wadden Sea. Crew members initially attempted to control the fire themselves but had to abandon ship when overwhelmed. Some crew members jumped into the sea from a height of 30 meters, and the Ameland lifeboat had to rescue them.
The cargo ship was pulled by a tugboat out of major shipping routes to avoid further hazards. The vessel, operated by K-Line but owned by a subsidiary of Japanese shipbuilding firm Imabari Shipbuilding, is currently stationary, but there are concerns that it may be listing.
The immediate challenge for emergency crews is to extinguish the fire and prevent the cargo ship from sinking. Salvage boats are on standby, preparing for various scenarios.
The incident has also raised concerns about the risks of transporting electric vehicles. Last year, another cargo ship carrying 4,000 luxury cars caught fire and sank off the Azores due to lithium-ion batteries igniting. Specialized equipment was needed to control the fire.
