EVs not implicated in car carrier fire

author: FutureCar Staff    

Executives from salvage companies have dismissed speculation that an electric vehicle (EV) caused the fire on the car carrier Fremantle Highway. The Panama-flagged ship, chartered by K Line, was traveling from Bremerhaven in Germany to Singapore when it caught fire on July 25. Salvage specialists have cast doubt on the theory that the fire originated from one of the EVs, pointing out that many of them were intact on the lower decks and that the speed at which the fire was extinguished was inconsistent with EV battery fires, according to maritime-executive.com.

Contrary to initial reports of 498 EVs on board, it is now believed that between 900 and 1,000 cars, including EVs, were in good condition. The fire is suspected to have started on the eighth deck of the 12-deck ship, as that is where the most severe damage occurred, according to a salvage executive interviewed by Bloomberg. However, the executive added that "all experts with any knowledge on this topic agree that the transportation of electric vehicles introduces additional risks."

The cause of the fire will be determined by insurance experts, as the salvagers have declined to provide details. The ship is currently being stabilized at a pier in Eemshaven, a facility operated by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. Salvage teams and investigators are working on plans to unravel the origins of the fire. The engine room of the ship remains in good order, and a new crew has been flown in from Japan to operate the systems.

Executives from Boskalis suspect that leaked photos of the damage inside the vessel were taken by an insurance adjuster or an inspector working for the ship's owner. The photos revealed warped decks and burnt-out car frames, including recognizable models such as Porsche 911s, Cayennes, and Mini Clubmans. These photos were also shared on social media by a German politician as part of a campaign for stricter safety regulations on the shipment of EVs. Executives stated that certain sections of the ship have been severely damaged, causing the decks to become unstable. In some areas, the car frames were fused to the deck due to the intense heat of the fire.

Despite some cars appearing undamaged on the lower decks, Boskalis emphasized that no decision had been made to offload any vehicles. The concern remains that attempting to remove the cars could potentially lead to another fire due to the elevated temperatures, as reported by maritime-executive.com.

FutureCar Staff