- One year after the fire: Car freight can leave the Netherlands
One year after the devastating fire on the car carrier "Fremantle Highway" off the Dutch coast, the vessel is finally allowed to leave the Netherlands. The authorities have granted an export permit, the current owner, salvage company KMS, announced in Rotterdam. KMS had purchased the freighter after the fire and already found a new buyer in China. The renamed vessel, now called "Floor", is expected to be towed away within the next two months.
Last year, a fire broke out on the "Fremantle Highway". For days, the burning freighter, carrying 1.6 million liters of heavy oil, lay off the Dutch Wadden Sea coast. An oil spill was feared. After more than a week, the ship was first towed to Eemshaven on the border with Lower Saxony, and later to Rotterdam.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. The captain had initially reported that an electric car was the source of the blaze. The freighter was carrying around 3,800 cars, including nearly 500 electric vehicles. One man died during the ship's evacuation.
The vessel is set to be rebuilt in China. Initially, the supervisory authorities refused to grant a transport permit, considering it hazardous waste with stricter regulations. KMS then removed all burned parts. The new owner is now reportedly looking for a suitable tugboat to transport the approximately 200-meter-long ship to China.
The "Fremantle Highway" will be towed to China by a suitable tugboat, as per the plans of the new owner. Once in China, the renamed ship, now known as "Floor", will undergo rebuilding.
