Electric car ship fire. 1

[Alistair_Heaton]

From china to new Mexico car transport ship has been abandoned due fire.

Cargo Ship Carrying 3,000 Vehicles Abandoned After Fire Breaks Out Near Alaska

Marine Insight - The maritime industry guide.

www.marineinsight.com

 

[MechinNC]

I do not see what the point was regarding a salvage attempt. Once that fire spread through out, the ship is a wreck. Steel warped and softened by heat, all wiring and piping burned up. Maybe engine, gennies and prop salvageable. Even those are not likely worth a tow to Paki or India.

Maybe it was drifting north and threating the Aleutians?? If that was the issue, send a Navy or CG ship out there to shoot some holes in it. The fuel oil will gel in cold sub-surface temps.

 

[Pinwards]

Perhaps salvage of the cargo, rather than salvage of the ship, was the goal.

#

 

[Alistair_Heaton]

The owners or insurers are liable for any pollution that results from the wreck.

I suspect there are legal reasons why they have to at least attempt to recover it.

 

[MechinNC]

I do not think much if any cargo (cars) survived. Aero photos showed scorch marks on almost all decks.

 

[Debirlfan]

It might have got to the point that special electric vehicle and battery transport cargo ships are required.

With a method that can deal with battery fires

I know that loading and unloading would be a pain in the neck, but it seems it would be a lot safer to ship the cars and the batteries separately. Perhaps the electric vehicles could be lifted into place on an open top deck, and the batteries could be transported on a smaller, dedicated vessel. Battery ship might still burn up, but at least it would be a smaller ship with less collateral damage.

Although personally, I don't think the electric vehicles are ready for 'prime time' to begin with. Too many fires, the lithium is apparently very nasty stuff, and the electric grid currently couldn't support a wholesale shift to EVs. There's got to be a better answer.