Burning Ship Towed To Temporary Anchorage Off Dutch Coast As Smoke Eases

On Sunday, authorities reported salvage crews began towing a blazing cargo ship carrying thousands of cars to a temporary anchorage point off the northern Dutch coast. The situation improved as the smoke from the distressed vessel began to subside.

On Saturday night, the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management stated they were unlikely to move the Fremantle Highway due to a southeasterly wind carrying smoke from the days-old fire over the tugboats.

However, the situation took a turn on Sunday. According to a statement from the ministry, “The smoke from the cargo ship significantly decreased this afternoon, and the salvage partnership between Multraship and Smit Salvage promptly seized the opportunity.” These two companies are actively engaged in the salvage operation.

Two tugboats were painstakingly towing the ship to a temporary anchorage location approximately 16 kilometers (10 miles) north of the Dutch islands of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland. The ministry also emphasized that experts are continuously monitoring the ship’s stability, and they have positioned a specialized oil cleanup vessel nearby in case of any potential spills.

The salvage teams primarily aim to tow the distressed ship to a port. However, at this time, the specific destination and timeline for this operation have not been determined. On Saturday, the crews attached a second towing cable to the ship. This cargo vessel carried 3,783 brand-new vehicles, including 498 electric vehicles, on its journey from the German port of Bremerhaven to Singapore.*

Since Tuesday, the ship has been engulfed in flames. However, firefighters decided not to extinguish the fire with water. This choice was motivated by the concern that dousing the flames might destabilize the nearly 200-meter (219-yard) vessel currently floating close to North Sea shipping lanes and globally renowned migratory bird habitat. Following the fire outbreak, one crew member tragically lost their life, and several others sustained injuries.

In the early hours of Wednesday, the crew was successfully evacuated from the ship. However, as of now, the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Reference: The Globe and Mail, AP News, News Channel 3

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Source: Maritime Shipping News