“My car is now adrift, possibly on fire, in the middle of the ocean,” says a car enthusiast who has been waiting for his 2022 frozen-berry metallic Porsche Boxster Spyder.
On Thursday, a massive cargo ship carrying thousands of cars, including 1,100 Porsches, caught fire and drifted off the shore of the Azores after its 22 crew members were evacuated.
According to a ship tracking website, the fire broke out in the cargo hold of the Felicity Ace, which had departed Emden, Germany, on February 10 and was expected to arrive in Davisville, Rhode Island, on Wednesday.
When Portuguese soldiers arrived on Wednesday to evacuate the crew, the ship was around 320 kilometers from Terceira Island in the Azores, a Portuguese island region.
According to the authorities, neither rescuers or crew members were hurt during the “highly skilled and physically demanding” operation, which included a helicopter that transported the crew members to the adjacent Portuguese island of Faial.
It was unknown how much of the 200m, 60,000-tonne cargo ship’s contents were destroyed in the fire or how the authorities planned to care for the damaged vessel. The shipping business could not be reached right away.
According to The Drive website, the Volkswagen Group believed over 4,000 vehicles were on board, including 189 Bentleys.
Despite the pandemic’s impact on the supply chain, the fire comes at a time when showrooms across the country are struggling to keep up with demand. Demand has risen as a result of low interest rates, increasing savings rates, and government stimulus payments, while automakers have struggled to cope with a computer chip shortage.
Since August, Mr. Matt Farah, a car aficionado and editor of The Smoking Tire, has been waiting for his 2022 frozen-berry metallic Porsche Boxster Spyder, which has a retail price of around US$123,000 and has been customized to his exact requirements.
“The best sports car of all time, hands down,” he wrote.
On Wednesday, though, he received some bad news: “I just got a call from my dealer. My car is now adrift, possibly on fire, in the middle of the ocean.”
Mr. Farah said in a statement on Thursday that a Porsche representative confirmed his car was on the boat and expressed regret for the inconvenience.
“That was yesterday, and I have not heard any updates since,” he said. “I’m glad no one was hurt in the fire and everyone is safe, which is the most important thing. I’m sure that whatever happens going forward, Porsche will do right by their customers.”
A representative for Porsche Cars North America stated in a statement on Thursday evening that 1,100 of the company’s cars were on board, but that their fate was uncertain. Customers who are concerned about their vehicle should call their dealer, she advised.
“Our immediate thoughts are of relief that the 22 crew members of the merchant ship Felicity Ace are safe and well,” the statement said.
Image Credit: MARINEINSIGHT/TWITTER
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