Cargo ship carrying almost 3,000 automobiles catches fireplace, leaves one useless

A big cargo ship carrying almost 3,000 automobiles caught fireplace final night time off the Dutch coast, killing one crew member and injuring a number of others. The vessel, named Fremantle Freeway, was absolutely evacuated by way of different boats and helicopters, however as of now, the Dutch Coast Guard is saying that the hearth continues to be ablaze as emergency staff try to put it out.

Reuters studies that about 350 of the automobiles onboard the ship are Mercedes-Benz merchandise. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless not confirmed what the remainder of the automobiles are. Studies say that of the roughly 3,000 automobiles, 25 of them are electrical.

The reason for the hearth is unclear for now, as varied official statements and media studies battle with one another. The Coast Guard’s official stay weblog for the incident states “the reason for the hearth continues to be unknown.” In the meantime, Reuters is reporting {that a} Coast Guard spokesperson advised the publication that the hearth “started close to an electrical automotive.” So as to add much more confusion to the story, Sky is reporting {that a} coastguard spokesperson mentioned, “an electrical automotive was the suspected supply of the blaze.”

We’ve contacted the Dutch Coast Guard to try to get some solutions of our personal and can replace this publish with any extra data.

Whatever the supply of the hearth, emergency officers are having a troublesome time placing it out. 

“It’s carrying automobiles, 2,857 of which 25 are electrical automobiles, which made the hearth much more tough. It’s not simple to maintain that form of fireplace underneath management and even in such a vessel it’s not simple,” coastguard spokesperson Lea Versteeg mentioned.

The coastguard mentioned the Fremantle, which had departed from the port of Bremerhaven, had been towed out of delivery lanes. It was 17 miles north of Ameland when the hearth began.

It unfold so shortly that seven crew members jumped overboard, mentioned Willard Molenaar of the Royal Dutch Rescue Firm (KNRM), who was among the many first on the scene. Coastguard spokesperson Edwin Granneman mentioned salvage consultants have been attempting to work out the subsequent steps for the burning boat.

Shoei Kisen, the Japanese ship leasing firm that manages the Fremantle, mentioned it was working with the Dutch authorities to extinguish the hearth.

The Fremantle Freeway is only one of some large cargo ships carrying automobiles to catch fireplace we have seen as of late. There was the notorious Felicity Ace, the Golden Ray and the Grande Costa d’Avorio that every one caught fireplace prior to now few years.

We’ll replace this publish as extra data turns into obtainable.

Materials from Reuters and AP was used on this report.