The Netherlands Coastguard is attempting to secure a tow to the hull of a K Line-operated car carrier before it is overcome by a raging fire in the North Sea.
The 10,876-bhp Guardian (built 2013), a high-powered offshore supply vessel owned by Multraship Towage & Salvage, has been brought in to secure a line to the 6,220-ceu Fremantle Highway (built 2013), which is in danger of sinking.
The line has already been secured by the tug Hunter, but the coastguard said this is a temporary measure.
Three tugs have been involved in firefighting operations.
There has been speculation that the blaze may have been started by a number of electric cars on board the ship. The coastguard said the cause is still under investigation.
“The situation is unchanged,” it added.
“There is still a lot of smoke, a plan of action is being worked on and various scenarios are being considered. This cause of the fire is still unknown.”
In a statement the vessel's operator K Line said: “The owners are currently trying to extinguish the fire in cooperation with local authorities and concerned parties and they will continue to endeavour to extinguish the fire and recover the situation as soon as possible.”
K Line confirmed one crew member died in the incident. “We would like to express our sadness in respect of this loss and our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased. As far as we are aware, there is no reported oil pollution due to this incident. ”
The vessel, owned by Japan’s Shoei Kisen, was around 27 km north of the island of Ameland off the northern Netherlands when the crew of 23 were evacuated.
Car carrier fires have proved difficult to put out. There was a similar fire on the 6,400-ceu Felicity Ace (built 2005) in February last year in the Azores. The ship eventually sank at sea while under tow.
The 6,400-ceu Sincerity Ace (built 2009), also owned by Shoei, was a constructive total loss after catching fire in the Pacific in 2018.
