The fires aboard the Felicity Ace cargo ship carrying nearly 4,000 Volkswagen Group vehicles made world news during the past month.
The ship was on fire for several days while still afloat. Thankfully, the entire crew made it safely to rescue vessels. Once rescuers extinguished the fires, the towing of this ship began but ultimately failed. The Felicity Ace now resides at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean along with the vehicular cargo it was carrying from Germany to the United States.
The Portuguese Navy Saved the Day
Most of the world understands the loss of materials and products, but not lives. When their child is in a car accident for the first time, many parents tell that child, “it’s only a car; we can replace it.” The sentiment usually follows that the loss of the child would be devastating, which it would be. Thankfully, the entire 22-person crew of the Felicity Ace made it safely to Portuguese Navy vessels before the fires got out of hand. These lives saved are the most important part of this entire event.
Did EVs Cause the Felicity Ace Fire?
More than 25 percent of the nearly 4,000 vehicles aboard the Felicity Ace were Porsche models. The entire cargo of this ship came from the Volkswagen Group. While it sounds to many of us like a huge loss for the company, this loss, which is insured, represents a minuscule portion of sales for the VW Group. While we don’t know the cause of the fires, Reuters reported that captain Joao Mendes Cabeccas of the port of Hortas suspects the cause could be the lithium-ion batteries catching fire above the ship. The Felicity Ace was carrying both EV and non-EV models when it sank into the ocean.
Will Investigators find the Cause of the Fire?
While we aren’t sure what measures can be taken to investigate a wreck currently sitting on the ocean floor, if none are taken, we won’t know what the cause of this fire was. If no investigation takes place, we won’t know if the captain’s suspicions are correct. His logic for the cause of the fire is sound. Many EV fires have made the news and tell us that these batteries can catch fire. While we don’t know what would cause this to happen during transport, it is a possibility.
Does This Mean Current Transportation Methods are Unsafe?
Even though many automakers, VW Group included, build factories closer to where they sell vehicles, this isn’t practical for all models. Some vehicles still need to travel across the ocean on large ships, such as the Felicity Ace, and that means the potential of becoming a wreck at the bottom of a body of water. Thankfully, only one out of every 150 commercial shipping disasters involves a ship carrying vehicles on it. With so few of these ships turning into wrecks, this method of transport remains the most effective.
What Will Become of the Felicity Ace?
Even though it’s currently sunk in the ocean with the salvage tow crew monitoring the situation. If this ship poses an environmental issue or concern for other ships passing through, it will need to be dismantled and scrapped. The vehicles aboard could end up staying at the bottom of the ocean unless they pose an environmental threat to the marine life of the area. If the ship remains on the ocean floor, it could become a place where sea creatures find a home, which would be quite a change from what it was to what it could be.
How are the Volkswagen Group Dealers Addressing the Los Vehicles?
Many customers and dealers in the United States were waiting for the vehicles aboard the Felicity Ace to arrive. Some of these models were orders placed by customers for specific trims and details they desire in their car. The Volkswagen Group dealer network is notifying customers of the extended wait for their car due to the fire. Hopefully, most customers will be understanding of the situation and wait for the next shipment to have the vehicles they want to drive.
The loss of the Felicity Ace caused the VW Group to have one less transport ship going from Germany to the United States, but another ship can be built and put into service to handle this problem. Unfortunately, the VW dealers in the United States already face backlogs and inventory shortages, which are now made worse by the loss of the nearly 4,000 vehicles aboard the Felicity Ace.
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