The mystery surrounding the causes of the Fremantle Highway freighter fire deepens a little further. The first teams of specialists were able to begin inspections of the cargo. They discovered that several floors of cars did not burn, including electric cars.
Have electric cars been accused too quickly? The hypothesis cannot be excluded. For the moment, the cause of the fire aboard the cargo car carrier Fremantle Highway has not yet been formalized. The case is still ongoing. It is the statements of experts, who were able to inspect the ship on August 11, 2023, which revive the debate with announcements made to the Dutch media.
According to the first observations of experts, around 2,700 of the approximately 3,800 cars on board were destroyed by the fire. According to Peter Berdowski, boss of salvage company Boskalis, “ some of the bridges are totally merged with the cars “. Several bridges are generally intact and their merchandise as well.
About 1,000 vehicles still “intact”, including electric cars
According to the first findings of the experts, the 4 lower decks (1 to 4) of the car carrier escaped the flames. The engine room is also completely spared. This certainly explains why the boat did not sink, unlike the Felicity Ace in 2022.
However, the fire could have started on deck 8, which is the most damaged. At this level, the hulks of the cars and the steel structure of the boat become one, making exploration difficult. A probable hypothesis is that the fire spread over the 4 upper and 2 lower decks down to deck 5. As the 5th level of the car carrier was miraculously empty, it seems to have created a natural barrier in the spread of the fire. The Dutch media RLT nieuws published, on August 14, 4 unpublished photos of the interior damage of the Freemantle Highway.
The 4 levels, largely intact, would accommodate around 1,000 vehicles deemed to be in good condition by Peter Berdowski. According to information taken up by numerous German media, the expert would have indicated that of these 1,000 cars, there would be 500 electric models. This would therefore correspond to all the electric vehicles officially referenced on board the cargo ship. If this turns out to be correct, the hypothesis that the fire started because of electric cars would be in doubt.
Figures to be taken with hindsight, pending confirmation
As the first inspections take place, one can imagine that the figure given is an order of magnitude, more than a precise count. The experts are specialized in the rescue of boats and not cars. It is hard to imagine them counting electric cars and thermal cars, especially since the distinction is not always obvious (especially for BMWs and Minis). Moreover, in the Dutch media deVolkskrant, the quote from Peter Berdowski is more measured: ” It is estimated that a thousand vehicles are affected, including around half of the approximately 500 electric cars on board. »
In this version, this would mean that other electric vehicles could have been on the other decks of the freighter. Of course, it only takes one isolated electric vehicle to be the cause of the fire starting. However, it is not excluded that the fire may have started from a thermal vehicle or a rechargeable hybrid model. The electric car seems a little too easily to be singled out as the perfect culprit.
A new puzzle for the experts to solve
Experts working for the various car manufacturers involved (Volkswagen, BMW, Rolls Royce and Mercedes) must now study how the vehicles deemed “intact” can be transported out of the freighter without risk. The unloading maneuvers of these vehicles should not lead to a new disaster.
Even if the vehicles appear to be in good apparent condition, it is necessary to check whether they can start and find a way to get them out of the cargo. All of this is shaping up to be one hell of a headache. Ideally, the wrecks should also be extracted on site, but this seems difficult without suitable equipment on the port. Especially since time is running out: the Fremantle Highway must have left its current location by October 14 at the latest.
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