The 200-meter roll-on/roll-off vessel Felicity Ace delivered Volkswagen and Porsche cars from Emden, Germany, to Davisville, USA. According to the Portuguese Navy, when the ship was 90 nautical miles southwest of the Portuguese Azores on February 16, a fire broke out on board. The fire quickly spread and forced all 22 crew members to abandon the ship, CNN reported.
According to another statement from the Portuguese Navy, the crew was safely picked up and taken to a hotel in Ponta Delgada on the island of Sao Miguel. According to preliminary information, no noticeable sources of pollution from the fire were found.
The abandoned vessel continues to burn, but the owners intend to tow it away. Felicity Ace was built in 2005 and registered in Panama. Currently operated by the Japanese shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL).
Volkswagen and Porsche have confirmed that the Felicity Ace is carrying vehicles for American customers. Dealers are already contacting them to inform them that the ordered cars will not be delivered within the stated time frame.
According to the Associated Press, Felicity Ace is capable of carrying 17,000 metric tons of cargo, with more than a thousand vehicles on board. While the ship continues to burn, a Portuguese Navy patrol ship is keeping an eye on it.
The Portuguese Air Force released a video of the rescue operation:
In 2020, the cargo ship MV Golden Ray capsized off the coast of the United States, carrying about four thousand cars of various brands, mainly Hyundai and Kia. It was not possible to tow it away from the scene and remove the cargo; as a result, the ship was cut up with chains and disposed of in parts along with all its contents.
