Ship carrying hundreds of Porsches and Bentleys adrift after catching fire

US-centered automobile reviewer Matt Farah mentioned on Twitter that a Porsche he experienced ordered was on the ship.

“I just got the simply call from my supplier,” he tweeted. “My motor vehicle is now adrift, maybe on fireplace, in the middle of the ocean.”

The fireplace was nevertheless reportedly energetic as of Thursday night time and the induce is not still identified. The ships are normally divided into sections, which could restrict the hurt to the cargo.

The ship is operated by Mitsui OSK Traces, which explained it “regrets the inconvenience and issue caused”.

It extra: “MOL will make just about every effort to comprise the harm and take care of the problem as the most important priorities.”

The crew are harmless in a hotel on the Azores and are in good wellness, it mentioned, introducing that it experienced appointed a salvage team which is thanks to get there at the vessel on Friday.

Among the the 3,965 automobiles influenced were being Volkswagen and Lamborghinis, in accordance to the German newspaper Handelsblatt.

Container ship fires are unusual, but can be catastrophic. In 2018, a hearth on the Maersk Honam claimed the lives of 5 of its 27 crew immediately after chemical substances it was carrying caught hearth and the ship’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system was not able to deliver the blaze beneath handle. It was salvaged and renamed the Maersk Halifax.

Container ship dimensions have enhanced by 1,500personal computer due to the fact 1968, according to insurance provider Allianz, which has warned that ever-more sophisticated hearth-combating methods will be wanted to retain up.

Volkswagen did not instantly respond to a request for remark.