2023-08-11 12:42:58
It remains unclear how quickly the freight on board the “Fremantle Highway” can be recovered. The chief of the salvage company said many of the cars the ship had loaded were completely fused to the decks.
After the devastating fire on the car cargo ship off the Dutch coast, Berger inspected the ship. The top four decks of the “Fremantle Highway” were so badly damaged that they might hardly be walked on, said the boss of the salvage company Boskalis, Peter Berdowski, according to media reports. It was difficult to salvage the load.
According to the experts, around 2,700 of the approximately 3,800 cars on board have been destroyed and can probably not be recovered. “Some of the decks are totally merged with the cars,” Berdowski told reporters in Eemshaven. Soon the oil will be pumped out of the ship. “This means that the risk of an environmental catastrophe is significantly smaller,” said the Boskalis boss.
An oil spill threatened in the Wadden Sea
After the fire had raged for days, the Japanese freighter was towed to Eemshaven just over a week ago. The cause of the fire was probably the battery of an electric car – but that is not yet certain. An oil spill threatened the North Sea, islands and natural areas of the Wadden Sea. One person died during the evacuation of the crew.
The inspection has now revealed that the bottom four of the twelve decks are largely undamaged. Also, regarding 1,000 cars, including 500 electric ones, are in good condition at first glance, Berdowski said. But it is still unclear how they can be recovered.
E-cars might ignite once more during transport
Experts from the car manufacturers – including Volkswagen, BMW and Mercedes – are now to investigate how the vehicles can be transported. The electric cars have a charged battery, said Berdowski. “It can be very dangerous.” You don’t want the cars to catch fire once more as a result of the transport, “and all the misery starts all over once more”.
The Fremantle Highway can remain in port until October 14th. From there the freighter is to be towed to another location where it will be scrapped or repaired. This is a decision of the Japanese shipowner.
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