Burnt-out ship carrying 3,700 cars towed to Dutch port of Eemshaven

[Kennah]

Source: The Guardian

A burnt-out transport ship carrying thousands of cars has been towed to a northern Dutch port more than a week after catching fire at sea, averting a feared environmental disaster.

Local media images showed tugs towing the Fremantle Highway into Eemshaven after a journey from a holding position.

One sailor died and 22 were rescued after the Panamanian-flagged ship, carrying 3,783 new cars, including 498 electric vehicles, caught fire off the Dutch coast on 25 July.

“I can confirm the ship has arrived in Eemshaven,” said Jente Wieldraaijer, a spokesperson for the regional safety authority.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/03/burnt-out-ship-fremantle-highway-carrying-3700-cars-towed-to-dutch-port-of-eemshaven

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Other reports indicate there are a number of expensive automobiles aboard.

13% of the vehicles were EVs.

Is Gaia sending a message through this?

[Eugene]

1. 2nd such casualty in 12 months. The underwriters are likely a bigger concern than Gaia.

It is good to hear the the ship is has been secured in port.

Lithium ion batteries are especially unforgiving of rough handling during shipment. Procedures will have to change.

[Warpy]

2. Exactly, that was my guess

For instance, I'd never take an EV off road. Well, maybe a golf cart on well manicured or paved paths through golf courses if I played golf, which I don't. I'd be especially paranoid driving in New England in the spring, when frost heaves appear, one of those bumps hit at any sort of speed* might do the job of compromising one of the batteries.

Chances are another thing besides shipping procedure needs to be addressed, the vulnerability of batteries to big bumps. Battery compartments need to be redesigned.

*Frost heaves are a major hazard since the DOT, in its infinite wisdom, puts a "BUMP" sign right at the frost heave instead of back 100 feet or so, giving people time to brake. I lost count of the number of times my head collided with the roof because of that.

[LymphocyteLover]

4. Frost heaves? Never heard of that

[Warpy]

5. Lucky you.

https://munsoninc.blogspot.com/2014/03/potholes-and-frost-heave-in-milwaukee.html

[LymphocyteLover]

7. I'm certainly familiar with potholes appearing in spring after the winter ice

here in Indiana. But never heard of ice heaves.

[Warpy]

8. Main roads usually have trucks that pound them into potholes quickly

I've encountered them mostly on semi rural roads in tourist traps in New England. They're nasty, especially combined with DOT stupidity.

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. I am waiting for an actual investigation into the cause of the fire

The press has simply assumed it was the EVs, and not the cars full of highly flammable liquids.

Oh, look at what I just found posted:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143108782

Hyundai and Kia recall nearly 92,000 vehicles and tell owners to park them outside due to fire risk

Hyundai and Kia are telling the owners of nearly 92,000 vehicles in the U.S. to park them outside because an electronic controller in an oil pump can overheat and cause fires.

[Caribbeans]

6. The truth about EVs and fire risk in our cities Auto Expert John Cadogan

An eye opening video