Massive Cargo Ship Carrying 3000 Cars Caught Fire Off Netherlands

A cargo vessel carrying thousands of cars catches fire off the Netherlands coast. A rescue mission was underway for the 23 crew members. At least a crew member lost their life, and many were critically injured in a fire that suddenly broke out on one car carrier vessel off the Dutch coast on Wednesday.

The incident involved a Panamanian-registered vessel dubbed the Fremantle Highway. The fire was reported first at midnight when the distress calls were received from the vessel about 50 kilometers to the north of the northern Dutch island of Ameland, the AFP news agency reported. The crew members on the Fremantle Highway tried combatting the flames by themselves; however, the efforts were futile.

The crew members tried putting out the fire themselves, but they failed. However, the Dutch coastguard reported that a person lost their life, and several were injured. Per reports, the scale of the fire, fueled by the cargo of approximately 3,000 cars, made it very challenging for crew members to get control of the situation.

Rescue helicopters and boats were dispatched right away to the scene. The Dutch coastguard evacuated 23 crew members from the stricken vessel. The cause of the fire stays under probe, but the initial reports suggest it may have started owing to an electric car that caught fire on board that rapidly spread through the vessel.

Reference: News18, Money Control

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Source: Maritime Shipping News