Burning car carrier off Dutch coast with 500 EVs being towed away from shipping lanes

The fire on the Panamanian-registered Fremantle Highway, which was carrying new cars, resulted in the death of an Indian crew member and injury of seven who jumped overboard to escape the flames. Japan’s Shoei Kisen, which owns the ship, said the entire crew of 21 was Indian.

A Rijkswaterstaat spokeswoman told to the ANP Dutch press agency that at the temporary location, the ship would be further away from shipping routes and slightly out of the wind.

The relocation is an intermediate step in the difficult salvage operation, the spokeswoman said.

Ship charter company K Line said on Friday that there were 3,783 vehicles on board the ship, including 498 battery-electric vehicles, significantly more than the 25 initially reported.

BMW and Mercedes-Benz said they have cars among the cargo aboard the ship.

EV lithium-ion batteries burn with twice the energy of a normal fire, and maritime officials and insurers say the industry has not kept up with the risks.

Authorities said on Friday that the fire on the Fremantle Highway had lessened in intensity and salvagers have been able to board the ship to secure stronger tow lines.