“The merchant ship ‘Felicity Ace’ sank” about 25 nautical miles (approximately 46 km) from the Portuguese exclusive economic zone,” the navy said in a statement.
The sinking of the freighter, which “lost its stability”, occurred during the towing operation, which began on February 24, in an area whose depth is around 3,000 meters.
The “Felicity Ace”, flying the Panamanian flag, found itself adrift for a few days off the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, after a fire broke out on board on February 16.
The ship, which left Germany and was to join the United States, was 90 nautical miles (about 170 kilometers) southwest of the island of Faial when the alert was given.
The 22 crew members of this freighter, which was carrying vehicles from the Audi and Porsche brands according to local media, were quickly rescued.
They were initially evacuated on board an oil tanker which had been diverted on the spot to take part in the rescue operations, before being transported to the island of Faial on board a military helicopter.
In the days that followed, the fire continued to spread on board this approximately 200 meter long ship. Lithium batteries were the cause of the disaster according to several media, but the information has not been confirmed.
At the site of the sinking, it is possible to see “debris and oily residues” which are being monitored, said the Portuguese navy, adding that navy divers, equipped in particular with anti-pollution retention barriers , had to go there.