Burning Cargo Ship Is Carrying 500 Electric Vehicles

Bloomberg News reports:

The car carrier on fire near the Netherlands coast has almost 500 electric cars on board, according to its operator, more than was previously reported.

The cause of the blaze on the Fremantle Highway is still unknown, according to the Dutch coast guard, which previously said the initial cargo list they received suggested just 25 EVs were on the ship. The coast guard has denied reports that it had been confirmed the fire broke out in a section of the carrier where electric cars were stored.

Whether EVs had anything to do with precipitating the blaze, the number on board is relevant to what’s likely to be a days-long effort to put it out. Lithium-ion battery fires burn hotter and last longer than gasoline. They can also be difficult to extinguish, sometimes reigniting hours or days after seemingly having been put out.

Read the full article. In total, the ship is carrying nearly 4000 cars. At least one crew member has died in the fire and 17 others were rescued by helicopter, some after leaping overboard.

The ship on fire near the Netherlands coast has almost 500 electric cars on board, according to its operator, more than was previously reported https://t.co/H7NeYpvuHh

— Bloomberg (@business) July 28, 2023