The fire on the disaster freighter "Fremantle Highway" is out. This is reported by the "Bild" with reference to experts from the "Havariekommando".

The burnt-out car carrier Fremantle Highway has arrived at Eemshaven in northern Groningen. Around 1.30pm, the ship was sailed into the harbour mouth by a tug. It is now moored at a quay. There, they are considering what to do next. "No later than 14 October it has to be gone again," said Mayor Bolding of Het Hogeland municipality. The manoeuvres were followed from the shore by several dozen interested parties. They had arrived during the morning to follow the trip across the Wadden Sea with binoculars. The viewers gathered at the highest points around the harbour for the best view: the sea dyke and a footbridge over the harbour track. The journey began at 05:00 this morning from the spot 16 kilometres above Schiermonnikoog and Ameland where the ship was temporarily anchored. In convoy including a Coast Guard vessel and the oil-fighting vessel Arca of the Directorate-General for Public Works and Water Management, it set course for Eemshaven. There, due to the bad weather ahead and the tide, it had to be in by noon. It succeeded.

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Eemshaven was also chosen because it was closest and worse weather was on the way. Fire engines and an oil spill response team were also present at Eemshaven. "Nothing has leaked, but should it happen, at least you can act very quickly," said Carlo Eijkels of Rijkswaterstaat. Salvage experts remained on board to continuously monitor the situation. The decision to go to Eemshaven was the subject of extensive consultation with, among others, the safety region and the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management. The Delfzijl Port Authority and the Municipality of Het Hogeland wanted an assurance that they would not be footing the bill if anything went wrong. We got that assurance "in black and white" from the minister, said Mayor Bolding of Het Hogeland. Because its job is over once the ship is moored, Rijkswaterstaat does not want to go into detail about what happens next. "It is expected that inspections will be held, and the salvor will look at how to get the cargo off board," said a spokesperson. "It is up to the owner to see what he still wants to do with it. But you can imagine that if there has been a fire like that, there is not very much left of it." On board were, 3784 new cars, including nearly 500 electric ones, according to the note of lading. US economist Patrick Anderson calculated for the trade magazine Automotive News that the damage from the cargo alone comes to some €300 million.

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More dangerous than a fuel oil spill. Is the hotspots, toxic and combustible gases still lurking. If I remember my shipboard firefighting days. Next step is to overhaul the affected space by keeping them isolated from clean air while breaking up, cooling and extinguishing any hotspots and burning embers. Then start force ventilating the spaces with cool clean outside air and keep testing for toxic, explosive gases and sufficient o2 until it’s safe for damage control and salvage teams to enter with out having to wear a breathing apparatus.

That’s a lot of hard and dangerous work. I still say write it off as a total loss, remove the fuel oil, get it out of port quickly as possible, hold a GUNEX and sink it in deep ocean.

Salvage crews will take on the burnt-out Fremantle Highway for the first time in the coming days. The freighter, which caught fire a fortnight ago north of Ameland, has been in Eemshaven since last week. On board are 3783 cars, nearly 500 of which are electric. Salvagers from Smit Salvage and others will inspect what remains of the cargo. "Last weekend, quarters have already been made on the ship," says managing director Richard Janssen. The ship was made stable, lighting was installed, gas measurements were taken in various rooms and the firewater was removed. This was necessary before salvagers can start further inspections and work.

The cars on deck one to deck four are still intact as far as can be seen, says Janssen. There are fossil-fueled cars as well as electric cars there. Deck five is empty. The floors above it, decks six to 11, have been badly affected, though. "The fire has raged heavily there. There are probably many burnt-out car bodies involved." Once the cargo has been inspected, the car manufacturers will decide which cars should be moved, Janssen says. No one but the salvagers will be allowed to board. When the cars that are still intact are on shore, experts can take stock of the damage. Then it will be determined what will happen to them. The investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing, Janssen says. In this, the Dutch Safety Board is assisting the Panamanian authorities. They are carrying out the investigation because the ship was flying the Panamanian flag. The Japanese shipping company Shoei Kisen Kaisha, owner of the ship, also wants to investigate the cause of the shipping accident together with other relevant parties. Whether the company will send its own experts to Eemshaven is still unclear.

Meanwhile, a new crew has been sent to the Netherlands to help on the ship. "This is needed to operate the engine room, get the ship's systems back online, power the ship and help pump fuel," Janssen said. At what time the ship will be ready to be repaired or scrapped is still unclear.

^ Isn't it up to the insurance company to decide what's going to happen with this vessel ?

Markus

Usually yes.

While unloading cars on the freighter Fremantle Highway, a car caught fire. While moving an electric car with water damage, a reaction occurred in the battery, causing a fire, reports salvage company Smit Salvage. The Fremantle Highway is located at Eemshaven in Groningen. Salvors from Smit Salvage and Boskalis started disembarking cars from the ship, on which a fire broke out last month about a fortnight ago.

On board the transport ship were 3784 cars. Over 2,700 vehicles that were on the upper decks were lost in the fire and are still on the ship. The cars on the lower four decks were still reasonably intact after the fire and have now all been taken off board. The car that caught fire today was one of the last cars on the lower decks, reports salvage company Smit Salvage. "We were prepared for all risks and knew in advance that this could happen. We were already on standby and the fire was therefore soon out," says director Richard Janssen. Groningen Seaports, to which Eemshaven belongs, also says the fire was quickly under control. "The salvage fire brigade was already at the scene. When the car was taken off the ship, flames came out from underneath it and the vehicle was immediately hoisted into a container with water.

Smit Salvage reports that there is no reason to panic and that the unloading of cars on the cargo ship can continue as normal. "This does underline our concern, but the risks remain the same. We have to remain cautious." The salvage company expects to need about 10 more days to unload the burnt-out cars on the upper decks as well, "but that does depend on what else we encounter."

Not sold for scrap yet :hmmm:

No, there is even talk of repair that depends on the state of the ship.

Be interesting to know what price is set as the 'cut-off' by the insurers.

That is going to be an expensive fix. :(

Agreed, hence my reference to 'scrap' :yep: