The crew attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful. Seven crew members had to jump overboard to escape the flames, and one crew member tragically died in the blaze. Rescuers successfully evacuated all 23 crew members from the ship.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed. The Dutch Coast Guard mentioned that it started near an electric vehicle, but the source remains unknown at the time of the report.
Dutch Department of Waterways and Public Works spokesperson Edwin Versteeg told reporters, “It’s a very hard fire to extinguish, possibly because of the cargo the ship was transporting.” The ship was about 17 miles north of the Dutch island of Ameland when the fire started.
The ship was carrying a total of 2,857 cars, with 25 of them being electric vehicles. Mercedes-Benz confirmed they had about 350 cars on board.
At the time of the report, the fire was still raging, and authorities were working on a plan to extinguish it without causing the ship to sink. A rescue ship, Hunter, was assisting by spraying water on the ship's exterior to keep it cool.
Fremantle Highway Cargo Ship Fire. Photo by: Dutch Coast Guard Aircraft
The Fremantle Highway, registered in Panama, is managed by the Japanese ship leasing company Shoei Kisen, which is working with authorities on the matter. The ship was built in 2013 and is designated as a vehicle carrier, measuring 656 feet (200 meters) long.
Sources: Reuters, Dutch Coast Guard, De Telegraaf, Automotive News
