Volkswagen Group says the most of the 4,000 automobiles from its a number of manufacturers aboard the Felicity Ace are a complete loss due to a hearth on board that compelled the crew to desert the container ship within the Atlantic Ocean final week.
“We worry that the fireplace on the ship has broken numerous the practically 4,000 Group-brand automobiles to such an extent that they will now not be delivered to clients,” the corporate stated in launch despatched to Automotive Information Europe Friday. “Extra detailed data will not be but accessible.”
The ship was carrying 3,965 automobiles from the VW, Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley manufacturers destined for the U.S. market.
The fireplace may price VW Group $155 million, in accordance with one guide’s estimate
VW Group manufacturers and sellers have already begun informing their clients to search out options. The injury to the automobiles is roofed by insurance coverage, VW stated.
The Panama-registered Felicity Ace caught fireplace on February 16 and was reported adrift greater than 1,000 miles off the coast of Portugal. The 22 crew members on board have been evacuated the identical day.
Tough seas and the fireplace delayed the salvage operation, whereas heavy tugboats sprayed water to chill the vessel,
Among the Volkswagen Group automobiles on board have been electrical. Their lithium-ion batteries made the fireplace very troublesome to extinguish, port officers had stated.
By February 21, the fireplace died down on a ship, because it ran out of issues to burn. A salvage workforce was then capable of board the vessel.
Of the roughly $438 million whole worth of products aboard the Felicity Ace, Russell Group estimated there are $401 million price of automobiles, Bloomberg reported this week.
“Volkswagen could be very relieved that, in accordance with stories from the ship-owning firm, no individuals have been harmed within the fireplace and no oil spills have been noticed,” the corporate’s assertion stated. “The ship-owning firm at present stories that there isn’t a extra smoke seen on the ship, a salvage workforce has now boarded the ship and tugs are towing the ship away.”
A minimum of eight main incidents involving massive boats and broken automobiles have occurred since 2002.
In 2019, the Grande America destined for Brazil sank with 37 Porsches aboard, together with 4 uncommon, extremely personalized 911 GT2 RS (common costs immediately: $366,487, although specialised ones can method $800,000).