News / Fatal Fremantle Highway blaze rendered lifeboats inaccessible

Photo: Dutch coastguard

Yet another car carrier inferno, this one with electric vehicle batteries explicitly named as the culprit, resulting in the death of a seafarer and injuries to 22 others, is raising safety concerns beyond the threat of the fire itself.

Seven of Panama-flagged Fremantle Highway’s 25-strong crew jumped from the ship into the water, resulting in injuries and broken bones – and a drop of some 30 metres entails hitting seawater at 130 kph – more than enough to be lethal.

“One by one, ...