A fatal fire erupted on a car carrier ship named Fremantle Highway, located approximately 14.5 nautical miles off the northern Dutch island of Ameland. The vessel was carrying 3,000 vehicles, including electric cars. Concerns arose over the potential ecological impact on the nearby fragile Frisian island chain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its diverse aquatic and terrestrial species, including seals and porpoises.
Rescue operations commenced after authorities received a distress call around midnight. All 23 crew members were successfully evacuated from the ship via helicopters and a boat. Tragically, one person lost their life, and several others sustained injuries during the fire-fighting efforts. Some crew members had to jump overboard and were later rescued from the water, while the rest were airlifted to safety.
The car carrier, weighing 18,500 tonnes, was en route between Bremerhaven, Germany, and Port Said, Egypt, when the blaze broke out. Despite continuous efforts to control the fire, it continued to rage on board, and the vessel was listing.
As the ship is currently in close proximity to the ecologically sensitive Frisian islands, authorities were intensely focused on preventing the ship from sinking. Salvage vessels were on the scene, trying to extinguish the fire and secure the vessel. However, due to the rapidly spreading fire, specialized firefighters from Rotterdam could not be brought on board safely.
One of the potential causes of the fire is believed to be an electric vehicle among the 25 on board. The injured crew members, though suffering from breathing problems, were transported to northern towns for medical attention and were reported to be out of immediate danger.
Efforts were underway by multiple parties, including salvagers and Dutch authorities, to minimize the extent of the damage. A tug vessel successfully attached a cable to prevent the ship from drifting and blocking an important sailing route into Germany.
The incident evoked memories of a previous environmental disaster in the same area when 340 containers fell off a container ship in 2019, polluting pristine coastlines with plastic and polystyrene. Additionally, a major accident occurred off the Dutch coast in 2012, when the car carrier Baltic Ice sank after colliding with a container ship, resulting in the death of eleven sailors.
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