A cargo ship transporting thousands of cars from Europe to the United States is burning and adrift in the Atlantic Ocean. Rescuers saved the crew but were unable to put out the fire.
A Portuguese navy ship responded to the Felicity Ace’s distress signal near the mid-Atlantic Azore Islands on Wednesday when a fire broke out in its cargo hold, the Associated Press reported. All 22 crew members were safely evacuated, but pictures from nearby ships showed the Felicity Ace engulfed in smoke and flames.
The ship was carrying thousands of cars, leaving Emden, Germany, on Feb. 10, and was expected to arrive in Rhode Island on Feb. 23. Both Porsche and Volkswagen have confirmed they had vehicles aboard, possibly in the thousands. The 650-foot ship can carry 18,700 tons of cargo.
THE US NAVY HAS A RELIGION PROBLEM
BREAKING: A giant cargo ship “Felicity Ace” is on fire in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
It’s carrying a cargo of Porsche and VW automobiles.
The crew safely abandoned ship in lifeboats. Under maritime law the ship is now “finders keepers.” pic.twitter.com/gHLqHncrOi
— Retro Tech Noir (@RetroTechNoir) February 17, 2022
“Our immediate thoughts are of relief that the 22 crew of the merchant ship Felicity Ace are safe and well,” a Porsche spokeswoman told the Washington Examiner. “A number of our cars are among the cargo. We are in contact with the shipping company and the details of the cars on board are now known.”
Volkswagen Group, which owns brands including Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley, told Business Insider that it had nearly 4,000 cars on board.
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The delay or destruction of these vehicles will add further challenges to the U.S. auto industry, which has suffered shortages amid supply chain problems and the pandemic.
Volkswagen and the ship’s operator, Japanese company Mitsui OSK Lines, did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment.
