MOL car carrier on fire, abandoned, Atlantic UPDATE Porsche and VW cars

Posted in Accidents by Mikhail Voytenko

Feb 17 0040 UTC UPDATE:

All 22 crew were evacuated, and transported by helicopter to Faial island – 11 were picked up from life raft or lifeboat, 11 were rescued by merchant ship (understood by Suezmax crude oil tanker RESILIENT WARRIOR, IMO 9856359) and later airlifted by helicopter.

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​FELICITY ACE is to be towed to nearest shelter, owner of the ship is to appoint salvage company. AIS is on, Portugal Navy patrol ship NRP SETUBAL (IMO 9286724) is approaching drifting car carrier, most probably to be on a standby until tugs arrive. FELICITY ACE is carrying Porsche and other Volkswagen Auto Group brands cars.

Management Statement:
MOL Shipmanagement Singapore, managers of the car carrier FELICITY ACE report that the vessel has experienced a fire and the Master has taken the prudent decision to abandon the ship. With assistance from commercial ships and helicopter in the area, all 22 crew members have been safely evacuated from the ship.
FELICITY ACE was on passage from Germany to USA, carrying car units, when the fire occurred in approximate position 37 deg.29.9N x 030 deg. 14.00W, some 90 nautical miles southwest of the Azores in the Atlantic. The fire was first reported at around 1130 hrs CET on February 16.

 All the appropriate authorities have been _alert_ed and are responding. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines as the operator of the vessel and MOL Shipmanagement Singapore, has established an incident response team to coordinate the emergency. As the safety of the crew members have been confirmed, MOL will make every effort to contain the damage and resolve the situation as the main priorities.

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Feb 16: Car carrier FELICITY ACE issued distress signal in the morning Feb 16 some 90 nm SSW of Azores, Atlantic, and reported fire in one of cargo decks. The ship is en route from Emden Germany to North Kingstown USA.

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​FELICITY ACE went NUC soon after issuing distress signal, 22 crew were reportedly, evacuated. Ship’s AIS as of 1450 UTC Feb 16 was still on, disabled ship drifting in eastern direction. Portugal Navy and nearby ships have been engaged in rescue. It’s not confirmed though, that all the crew abandoned the ship.

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