A cargo ship carrying almost 3,000 cars caught fire in the North Sea near the Dutch coast, resulting in the tragic death of one crew member and injuring several others. The ship, called the Fremantle Highway, was on its way from Germany to Egypt when the fire broke out.
The Dutch coastguard swiftly responded and rescued the 23 crew members on board. However, their efforts to put out the fire were unsuccessful, leading some crew members to jump overboard. All the crew members were reported to be Indian nationals.
Throughout the day, rescue ships sprayed water on the burning vessel to cool it down, but they had to be careful not to use too much water to prevent the ship from sinking. A salvage vessel was connected to stabilize the ship and prevent it from drifting.
The exact cause of the fire is still unknown, but concerns have been raised since there were 25 electric cars among the vehicles on board. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) plans to evaluate new safety measures for ships carrying electric vehicles due to the increasing number of cargo ship fires involving such cars.
Experts predict that it may take several days to fully control the fire. The ship is currently located near the northern Dutch island of Ameland, a sensitive region known for its migratory birds.
The Fremantle Highway, operated by Shoei Kisen Kaisha Ltd, departed from the German port of Bremerhaven. This incident adds to the list of car carrier fires that have resulted in fatalities and vehicle losses in the past.
Authorities are working tirelessly to stabilize the situation and prevent further damage to the ship and the environment. Injured crew members have been taken to nearby towns for medical treatment.
Investigations into the cause of the fire continue, raising concerns among the shipping industry and regulatory bodies about the transportation of electric vehicles on cargo ships.
