Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Burning Ship Means Likely Loss of Almost Four Thousand Luxury Cars

Disaster Enters Second Week
Shipping News Feature

ATLANTIC OCEAN – As the tragedy approaches the start of a second week, the 60,000 gross tonne car carrier Felicity Ace continues to burn somewhere south of the Azores with the entire cargo of nearly 4,000 new vehicles, supposedly including Bentley, Lamborghini and Porsche luxury cars, suspected to have all been damaged.

The Panamanian flagged ship, operated by MOL Shipmanagement Singapore and owned by one of the Japanese group’s subsidiary companies, Snowscape Car Carriers S.A., took fire at around 1130 hours CET on February 16 whilst en route from Germany to the US at a position some 90 nautical miles southwest of the Azores.

Fortunately merchant ships and a helicopter in the locality were able to take off the entire crew of 22 without a single casualty, transferring all to the safety of the nearest land in the island chain. By the 18 February the Portuguese Navy, through the Ponta Delgada Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) and a warship standing by, were able to monitor the drift of the Felicity Ace.

Another bonus so far is that no oil has been spotted leaking from the ship and salvors having been appointed today, (22 February), two large tugs arrived on the scene, with two more salvage craft with additional firefighting and towing capability on passage one of which is scheduled to arrive on February 23 and another on February 26.

As soon as the vessel is considered safe to approach the salvage team will board the Felicity Ace to assess the full extent of the damage and consider the next stage. Anyone wishing to know the up to date information can access the dedicated web page published by MOL daily HERE.

Photo: Image courtesy of the Portuguese Navy.