The Felicity Ace Ship: a massive 200-meter-long roll-on/roll-off cargo ship built in 2005, tragically met its fiery demise in February 2022. Owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines of Japan, the vessel specializes in transporting cars and trucks.
Its final voyage in 2022 took a disastrous turn. While crossing the Atlantic south of the Azores, a fire erupted onboard. The blaze, possibly sparked by a lithium-ion battery in a Porsche car it was carrying, raged for weeks. Fortunately, the crew was evacuated safely. However, the extensive damage left the ship critically compromised.
By early March, the Felicity Ace ship lost buoyancy and sank to a depth of about 3 kilometers, taking its precious cargo, including an estimated 4,000 luxury vehicles from brands like Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley, to the bottom of the sea.
The Felicity Ace incident resulted in a significant financial loss, with the total cargo valued at over $400 million. Lawsuits emerged with MOL and the ship’s insurer blaming Volkswagen. This suites alleged that a faulty battery in a Porsche caused the fire.
The ship sparked discussions around the safety of transporting electric vehicles by sea. It highlights the potential dangers posed by lithium-ion battery fires.
The sunken Felicity Ace now rests as an artificial reef on the ocean floor. It remains as a stark reminder of the complexities of transporting high-value cargo and the potential dangers associated with cargo ship fires.
