Massive Fire Engulfs Freight Ship Carrying 3,000 Cars in the North Sea

• Massive fire engulfs freighter carrying nearly 3,000 cars in the North Sea.
• At least one person dead, and 23 individuals rescued; rescue operations ongoing.
• Vessel’s location near important migratory bird habitat raises concerns about environmental impact.

At least one person has lost their life, and nearly 23 individuals have been rescued as a fierce fire continues to rage on a freighter loaded with approximately 3,000 cars in the North Sea. The incident began on Wednesday, and rescue operations have been ongoing to save those on board.

The vessel, named Fremantle Highway, was en route from the German port of Bremerhaven to Singapore when the blaze erupted, situated about 17 miles north of the Dutch island of Ameland. The Dutch coast guard has been actively involved in rescue efforts, with 23 people already saved from the ship, some of whom sustained severe injuries.

Despite the rescue attempts, the fire remains intense, hampering further boarding and containment efforts. Authorities are striving to prevent the ship from sinking near a vital migratory bird habitat. The situation poses significant challenges due to the ship’s proximity to the Wadden Sea, a UNESCO-listed area renowned for its intertidal sand and mud flats and important role in bird migration.

“the largest unbroken system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world” and “one of the most important areas for migratory birds in the world.”

As of now, the cause and origin of the fire remain unknown, and experts are assessing whether the ship can be towed. The presence of 25 electric cars among the cargo adds complexity to firefighting efforts.

Coast guard spokesperson Lea Versteeg emphasized the difficulty in controlling such a blaze and stressed the importance of mitigating the potential impact on the environment and surrounding islands. “This ensures that it is not yet safe for people to board,” He said.

“Currently, there are a lot of vessels on scene to monitor the situation and to see how to get the fire under control,” coast guard spokesperson Lea Versteeg told the Associated Press. “But it’s all depending on weather and the damage to the vessel. So we’re currently working out to see how we can make sure that… the least bad situation is going to happen.”

Emergency services have attended to the rescued crew members, who have suffered various injuries, including broken bones, burns, and breathing problems. The death of one crew member has been reported, but further details have not been disclosed.

The situation remains fluid, with the safety of the crew and the environment being top priorities for the rescue teams.

“It’s not easy to keep that kind of fire under control and even in such a vessel it’s not easy,” Versteeg said.

To stay informed about current events, please like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BOLUrduNews/.
Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/bolnewsurdu01 and stay updated with the latest news.

Also Read

Dutch, Germany to jointly drill for gas in North Sea

Controversial plan to drill gas 10 nautical miles offshore on Dutch-German border....