Arrr! Brave lads be boardin' ye burnin' vessel off Dutch shores as th' flames be takin' a rest!
2023-07-28
Arrr! A merry band o' salvagers be settin' foot on the Fremantle Highway, a flamin' vessel in th' North Sea by th' Dutch isle o' Terschelling, on this fine Friday.
A cargo ship loaded with cars has been on fire for over two days off the northern Dutch coast. However, salvage crews were finally able to board the vessel on Friday as the heat, flames, and smoke had eased. According to the Netherlands' coast guard, the temperature on board had dropped significantly, although the fire was still raging. The smoke was also decreasing. The salvage workers established a new, more robust towing connection, making it easier to move and control the ship.The cause of the fire is unknown, and government officials are currently considering different scenarios to determine the next steps. Tragically, one crew member died, and others were injured during the blaze. The entire crew was evacuated from the ship, with some jumping into the sea and being rescued by a lifeboat.
It was revealed that the ship, named Fremantle Highway, was carrying far more electric vehicles than initially reported. The company that chartered the ship, K Line, stated that it was transporting a total of 3,783 new vehicles, including 498 electric vehicles. This contradicted the coast guard's earlier claim of 2,857 cars, including only 25 electric vehicles. The source of the confusion remains unknown.
The burning ship posed a potential threat to the Wadden Sea, a protected area known for its migratory bird population. The proximity of the vessel to busy North Sea shipping lanes raised concerns about the potential environmental impact if it were to sink. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, with a recent car transport ship fire in Newark, New Jersey taking nearly a week to extinguish and resulting in the deaths of two firefighters.