VW Group says 4,000 cars on burned cargo ship likely destroyed

Volkswagen Group (VW Group) said that most of the 4,000 cars aboard the Felicity Ace cargo ship can no longer be salvaged. The said cargo ship caught fire in the Atlantic carrying vehicles from VW Group’s multiple brands such as Porsche, Bentley, Audi, Lamborghini, and Volkswagen.  

Felicity Ace cargo ship [Photo: Portuguese Navy]

The VW Group explained that the cars abroad the burned cargo ship are likely destroyed. The fire resulted in a total loss in regards to the vehicles aboard the Felicity Ace.  

“We fear that the fire on the ship has damaged a large number of the nearly 4,000 Group-brand vehicles to such an extent that they can no longer be delivered to customers,” VW said in a statement shared with Automotive News. 

The Felicity Ace cargo ship is said to be carrying 3,965 vehicles, which includes 1,100 Porsches and 189 Bentleys. The said vehicles are destined for the U.S. market. 

Insurance experts noted that the fire could cost VW Group USD 155 million (around Php 7.97 billion). The automotive company added that damage to the vehicles is covered by insurance. It has also started communicating with the affected customers in regards to the matter.

The latest update from MOL Ship Management Singapore, managers of the car carrier Felicity Ace, stated that there is no oil leakage from the vessel, and it remains stable. The smoke leaving the vessel has currently stopped and is no longer visible.

Lithium-ion batteries were said to complicate fire rescue operations [Photo: Portuguese Navy]

Firefighters struggled to extinguish the fire on the burning cargo ship due to the lithium-ion batteries found in electric vehicles. Port official João Mendes Cabeças, suspected that the lithium-ion batteries could be one of the reasons why firefighters had a difficult time dousing the fire. 

He said that traditional water extinguishers are not designed to put out a fire from burning lithium-ion batteries. Firefighters cannot also use water to extinguish the ship as added weight could make the vessel unstable.

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