The insurer of 750 luxury cars — some of which were allegedly damaged in a fire in February 2017 — has taken American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier (ARC) to court.
On Wednesday, HDI Global filed a $1.25m lawsuit in Manhattan federal court against ARC, International Auto Logistics, the 19,900-dwt Honor (built 1996) and its registered owner, alleging negligence and unseaworthiness over a fire that broke out on the ship off the coast of England almost two years ago.
According to the complaint, an undisclosed number of new Mercedes-Benz vehicles loaded onto the Honor and destined for Baltimore were damaged when a 2010 Nissan Rogue caught fire. The car "purportedly had either battery issues or starter issues" before loading.
HDI alleges the vehicles were taken off the Honor in such a way that it was impossible to tell if they had been in the same cargo hold as the fire and inspecting, surveying, repairing and salvaging the vehicles ran the bill up to seven figures.
HDI, which had to pay out Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler for the damage, alleges the defendants did not take the proper steps to ensure the Rogue could be safely transported.
New Jersey-based ARC, which operates US-flag car carriers, declined to comment for this story.
