A devastating fire broke out on the Panama-registered vehicle carrier, Fremantle Highway, off the Dutch coast, resulting in one person killed and several others injured, according to the coastguard.
The fire began on Tuesday night on the 199-meter long cargo ship, which was en route from Germany to Egypt, forcing some crew members to jump overboard to escape the flames.
Rescue ships quickly responded and sprayed water onto the burning vessel to cool it down. However, the Dutch coastguard expressed concerns that using too much water could lead to the ship sinking. To prevent this, a salvage vessel was deployed to stabilize the Fremantle Highway and prevent it from drifting further.
"The fire is most definitely still not controlled. It’s a very hard fire to extinguish, possibly because of the cargo the ship was transporting,” said Edwin Versteeg, a spokesperson for the Dutch Department of Waterways and Public Works.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, but the coastguard mentioned that it started near an electric car on board the ship.
As the fire rapidly spread, seven crew members had to jump overboard. Rescue teams, including the Royal Dutch Rescue Company (KNRM), were quick to respond, airlifting the remaining crew members from the burning vessel. However, some sustained injuries while jumping into the water, and tragically, one crew member lost their life in the flames.
The injured crew members are currently receiving treatment for breathing problems, burns, and broken bones, as stated by local Dutch authorities.
The Fremantle Highway had departed from the port of Bremerhaven and was 27 km (17 miles) north of the Dutch island of Ameland when the fire started. The ship has been towed away from shipping lanes to mitigate the risk of further damage to other vessels.
Shoei Kisen, the Japanese ship leasing company that manages the Fremantle, is working closely with the Dutch authorities to combat the fire and prevent further escalation.
This incident is the latest in a series of fires on cargo ships, particularly vehicle carriers, raising concerns about safety measures and firefighting capabilities in the maritime industry.
