Ship carrying hundreds of Porsches and Bentleys adrift after catching fire

US-based mostly car or truck reviewer Matt Farah said on Twitter that a Porsche he had requested was on the ship.

“I just obtained the connect with from my dealer,” he tweeted. “My car or truck is now adrift, potentially on fireplace, in the center of the ocean.”

The fireplace was nonetheless reportedly energetic as of Thursday night time and the trigger is not but acknowledged. The ships are frequently divided into sections, which could restrict the injury to the cargo.

The ship is operated by Mitsui OSK Strains, which claimed it “regrets the inconvenience and concern caused”.

It included: “MOL will make just about every effort to incorporate the problems and resolve the situation as the main priorities.”

The crew are protected in a resort on the Azores and are in great health and fitness, it mentioned, incorporating that it experienced appointed a salvage staff which is owing to arrive at the vessel on Friday.

Among the 3,965 cars influenced ended up Volkswagen and Lamborghinis, in accordance to the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

Container ship fires are unusual, but can be catastrophic. In 2018, a fireplace on the Maersk Honam claimed the lives of five of its 27 crew immediately after chemical substances it was carrying caught fire and the ship’s carbon dioxide hearth suppression process was not able to provide the blaze under handle. It was salvaged and renamed the Maersk Halifax.

Container ship sizes have elevated by 1,500personal computer due to the fact 1968, according to insurer Allianz, which has warned that ever-additional subtle hearth-preventing units will be required to preserve up.

Volkswagen did not instantly reply to a ask for for comment.