EVs not linked to car carrier fire

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【Summary】Executives from salvage companies have dismissed speculation that an electric vehicle started the fire on the car carrier Fremantle Highway. The salvage specialists noted that a large number of EVs on the lower decks were intact, and the speed at which the fire was extinguished was inconsistent with EV battery fires. While the cause of the fire is still being investigated, leaked photos show extensive damage to the ship, including burnt-out car frames.

FutureCar Staff Aug 22, 2023 10:07 AM PT

Executives from salvage companies have dismissed speculation that an electric vehicle (EV) started 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 the fire broke out on July 25. Salvage specialists have questioned the theory that the fire originated from an EV, as a significant number of EVs on the lower decks remained intact and the speed at which the fire was extinguished does not align with typical EV battery fires, according to maritime-executive.com.

While one media report stated that there were 498 EVs on board, approximately 900 to 1,000 cars, including the EVs, seemed to be in good condition. The fire likely began on the eighth deck, which suffered the most damage, according to a salvage executive interviewed by Bloomberg. However, the executive stirred controversy by suggesting that the transportation of EVs poses additional risks, a claim that he did not elaborate on. Insurance experts will ultimately determine the cause of the fire.

The vessel is currently being stabilized at a pier in Eemshaven, a facility operated by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. Salvage teams and investigators are working together to develop plans and uncover the origins of the fire. Some areas of the ship, such as the engine room, remain undamaged, and a new crew has been flown in from Japan to manage 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. These photos, which show warped decks and burnt-out car frames, include recognizable Mini models and are believed to depict Porsche 911s and Cayennes, as well as five-door Mini Clubmans, according to Splash247.com. A German politician shared the photos on social media as part of a campaign to advocate for stricter safety regulations for the shipment of EVs. The posting by Andreas Mrosek raised concerns about the dangers of a fire on a car ferry and the challenges of evacuating passengers.

According to executives, certain sections of the ship have sustained severe damage, causing the decks to become unstable. In some areas, the heat of the fire caused the car frames to fuse with the deck. However, on the lower decks, the cars appear to be undamaged. Boskalis emphasized that no decision has been made to offload any cars, as attempting to remove them could potentially trigger another fire due to the elevated temperatures, as reported by maritime-executive.com.