Burning cargo ship is adrift in mid-Atlantic without crew

CBS ^ | FEBRUARY 18, 2022 / 8:29 AM | Staff

[Red Badger]

A burning car transport ship drifted in the mid-Atlantic on Thursday after the huge vessel's 22 crew members were evacuated due to the blaze, the Portuguese navy said.

Shipping in the area was warned that the 650-foot-long Felicity Ace was adrift near Portugal's Azores Islands after the crew were taken off on Wednesday, Portuguese navy spokesman Commander José Sousa Luís said.

The Felicity Ace can carry more than 18,700 tons of cargo. Typically, car transport ships fit thousands of vehicles on multiple decks in their hold.

Volkswagen Group said in a brief statement the Felicity Ace was transporting to the U.S. vehicles that the German automaker produced. The company declined to comment on what consequences the incident might have for U.S. customers or the VW Group.

A photo of the ship released by the Portuguese navy. PORTUGUESE NAVY The ship's operator, Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, said in an email to the AP it could not provide information about the cargo.

A Portuguese navy ship sailed to the vehicle transporter, which was sailing from Emden in Germany to the port of Davisville in Rhode Island, according to online vessel trackers. A navy statement said the fire was still burning and showed a photograph of large clouds of white smoke billowing out.

The navy ship was to check whether the cargo vessel was in danger of sinking or causing pollution, Sousa Luís told The Associated Press.

The ship's owner is seeking an ocean-going tug, but the Felicity Ace is unlikely to be towed to a port in Portugal's Azores Islands because of its size, Sousa Luís said.

The crew were taken by helicopter on Wednesday to Faial Island on the archipelago, about 100 miles away, and are staying at a hotel there. None of them were hurt.

[wally_bert]

One of the best movies ever.

[struggle]

Some dude lost a very expensive Porshe Boxer on that boat.

[Walmartian]

Flotsam and jetsam are terms that describe two types of marine debris associated with vessels. Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident. Jetsam describes debris that was deliberately thrown overboard by a crew of a ship in distress, most often to lighten the ship's load. The word flotsam derives from the French word floter, to float. Jetsam is a shortened word for jettison.

Under maritime law the distinction is important. Flotsam may be claimed by the original owner, whereas jetsam may be claimed as property of whoever discovers it. If the jetsam is valuable, the discoverer may collect proceeds received though the sale of the salvaged objects.

[gr8eman]

I didn’t think about that but it’s true. I used to work with those green batteries for army gear (Radios, etc.) We always shipped them separately per regulation!

[Red Badger]

I’m not sure that it’s feasible for automobiles, since the batteries are very integrated into the car’s body in many places..................

[WKUHilltopper]

Yep...I’ve noticed this. Reason why I never bought a used car around this time.

[Rinnwald]

Car and Driver reports:

1100 Porsches
189 Bentlys
100 Volkswagens, including some electric ID.4s.

[nascarnation]

Wow what a wreck. Serious kinetic energy there...

[gr8eman]

Yes it is, if they’re connected to the circuitry they power! If you ever leave a car sitting for a long time, or transport on a truck/trailer always disconnect the battery!

[Red Badger]

Lloyd’s of London is having a meltdown right about now.............

[bigfootbob]

Probably all of them.

[Red Badger]

There were a few....................

[DoughtyOne]

Sadly there’s no water around to fight this blaze with.

Must be a Democrat in charge.

I know, I know, it’s not that simple.

Would seem to be simpler than they make it out to be.

[roadcat]

That ship seems to be riding high in the water, meaning it doesn’t appear to be loaded much.

I heard that Volkswagens float... until they completely burn.