A transport ship carrying cars has caught fire in the North Sea off the Dutch coast, leaving one crew member dead and 16 people wounded.
The blaze is proving extremely difficult to extinguish, according to reports, and if it sinks it would be a major environmental disaster.
Fire broke out on the Panamanian-registered Fremantle Highway about midnight on July 26, just off the Wadden Islands in the southern North Sea. The vessel was transporting almost 3,000 cars from Germany to Egypt. Among those were 25 electric vehicles, one of which is believed to have caused the inferno after it caught fire.
The crew members first tried to extinguish the flames themselves, Dutch broadcaster NOS noted. Specialised firefighters were then brought in by helicopter from Rotterdam, but the fire developed so quickly that the team did not deploy as it was deemed no longer safe to do so. Rescue workers said they could feel the heat of the blaze as they approached the transporter.
Dutch rescue vessels reported that the flames were engulfing the ship. Several of the crew of 23 were forced to jump from 30 metres off the carrier into the water.
They were in bad shape, the rescuers said: “They had breathing problems and were injured from the high jump. That was feisty.”
It’s still unclear how the one crewman’s death occurred.
Het schip staat nog in brand. Het bergingsvaartuig Hunter heeft een noodverbinding met het schip en houdt het schip zo gecontroleerd op een positie. Meerdere partijen werken aan een plan van aanpak om de schade zoveel mogelijk te beperken. pic.twitter.com/EYFTJJaHVo
— Kustwacht Nederland (@Kustwacht_nl) July 26, 2023
As of writing, the fire is raging in the forward part of the ship. Efforts are being made by those on the Coast Guard vessel Guardian to extinguish it, which is complicated by the electric cars on the carrier.
According to the Coast Guard, the vessel is now listing and in danger of sinking. “We are taking all scenarios into account,” said a spokesperson. As such, salvage vessels are also stationed nearby the stricken and stationary ship. It is feared the fire could last for days.
Environmental groups have expressed concerns over the blaze. The Wadden Sea holds UNESCO World Heritage status and is regarded as being a crucial location for migratory birds worldwide.
Experts fear that if the cargo ship were to sink, it would have disastrous consequences for this vital ecosystem. A spokesperson for the North Sea environmental group De Noordzee Association said: “The North Sea and the Wadden Sea could face an environmental catastrophe.”
A tug has managed to attach a cable to the ship to prevent it from drifting and blocking the important shipping lanes to and from Germany.
Ultimately, any salvage effort is the responsibility of the Japanese shipowner, experts say. According to several maritime media outlets, a freighter that blocked the Suez Canal in 2021 was owned by the same Japanese firm behind the Fremantle Highway.
