After the severe fire on the Japanese car freighter Fremantle Highway in the North Sea at the end of July, the inspection of the ship is in full swing. The top four decks were so badly damaged that they could hardly be walked on, said the head of the responsible salvage company. About 2,700 of the approximately 3,800 cars on board were destroyed. But: on the four lower decks there are about 1,000 cars, including 500 electric ones, in good condition. But it is still unclear how they can be found.
The Fremantle Highway can be in the Dutch port of Eemshaven until October 14. From there, the freighter is towed to another location, where it is scrapped or repaired. This is a decision of the Japanese shipowner.
The cleanup work is on hold
However, the clean-up work is currently on hold. As the Dagblad van het Noorden reported on Friday, 2,700 of the approximately 3,800 cars cannot get out. According to media reports, the manufacturers of the cars will investigate how best to transport the vehicles that are still intact.
Charged batteries a problem
The problem is that the e-cars have charged batteries. “It can be very dangerous,” Peter Berdowski, head of salvage company Boskalis, stressed on Friday. You don’t want the cars to catch fire again during transport, “and all the misery to start all over again”. He thinks it’s dangerous to work on the burnt-out decks.
Cause of fire still unclear
The Japanese cargo ship was towed to Eemshaven a week ago after the fire had been raging for days. The cause of the fire is still unknown and an investigation is underway. According to the first information from the Coast Guard immediately after the outbreak of the fire, an electric car could have been the starting point of the fire. An oil leak threatened the North Sea, the islands and the nature reserves of the Wadden Sea. One person died during the evacuation of the ship.
Debate about fire protection on car transporters
Due to the assumption that an electric car could have caused the fire, a discussion arose about fire protection on car transporters and ferries. The World Maritime Organization IMO plans to tighten security measures when transporting lithium-ion batteries. Insurance companies have been warning for some time about the dangers of burning batteries on ships.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
