Fremantle Highway
The Fremantle Highway, a Japanese-owned car carrier with 3,783 vehicles aboard, caught fire on July 25, 2023, near Ameland, Netherlands. The crew was unable to extinguish the fire, leading to its evacuation. Of 23 Indian crew members, 16 were rescued by helicopter, seven jumped overboard, and one died.
The fire eventually burned out and the vessel was towed to Eemshaven, where 1,000 vehicles were salvaged from lower decks. The damaged ship was later sent to China for repairs. Despite proximity to the Wadden Sea UNESCO site and risk from fuel oil, no major environmental damage occurred.
The fire’s cause remains under investigation by Panama Maritime Authority with Dutch assistance. Early EV-related theories were dismissed as EVs were stored in unaffected areas.
A recent investigation by the Dutch Safety Board found major flaws in the response to the incident, citing poor prioritization of crew rescue and communication issues that delayed medical treatment.
