The luxury car cargo ship that had caught fire sank off the Azores

 A freighter carrying thousands of luxury vehicles from the Volkswagen group, which caught fire almost two weeks ago off the Azores archipelago, was wrecked on Tuesday morning March 1, the Portuguese navy announced. A freighter carrying thousands of luxury vehicles from the Volkswagen group, which caught fire almost two weeks ago off the Azores archipelago, was wrecked on Tuesday morning March 1, the Portuguese navy announced. The vessel lost its stability during the towing operation "The merchant ship Felicity Ace sank" approximately 25 nautical miles (46 km) from the Portuguese exclusive economic zone," the navy said in a statement. The sinking of the freighter, which "lost its stability", occurred during the towing operation, which began on February 24, in an area whose depth is approximately 3,000 meters. The "Felicity Ace", flying the Panamanian flag, found itself adrift for a few days off the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, after a fire broke out on board on February 16. A freighter carrying thousands of luxury vehicles from the Volkswagen group, which caught fire almost two weeks ago off the Azores archipelago, was wrecked on Tuesday morning March 1, the Portuguese navy announced. The vessel lost its stability during the towing operation "The merchant ship Felicity Ace sank" approximately 25 nautical miles (46 km) from the Portuguese exclusive economic zone," the navy said in a statement. The sinking of the freighter, which "lost its stability", occurred during the towing operation, which began on February 24, in an area whose depth is approximately 3,000 meters. The "Felicity Ace", flying the Panamanian flag, found itself adrift for a few days off the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, after a fire broke out on board on February 16. The ship, which left Germany and was to join the United States, was 90 nautical miles (about 170 kilometers) southwest of the island of Faial when the alert was given. The 22 crew members were quickly rescued. They were initially evacuated on board an oil tanker, which had been diverted on the spot to participate in the rescue operations, before being transported to the island of Faial on board a military helicopter. In the days that followed, the fire continued to spread on board this approximately 200-meter-long vessel. Lithium batteries were the cause of the disaster, according to several media, but the information has not been confirmed. A freighter carrying thousands of luxury vehicles from the Volkswagen group, which caught fire almost two weeks ago off the Azores archipelago, was wrecked on Tuesday morning March 1, the Portuguese navy announced. The vessel lost its stability during the towing operation "The merchant ship Felicity Ace sank" approximately 25 nautical miles (46 km) from the Portuguese exclusive economic zone," the navy said in a statement. The sinking of the freighter, which "lost its stability", occurred during the towing operation, which began on February 24, in an area whose depth is approximately 3,000 meters. The "Felicity Ace", flying the Panamanian flag, found itself adrift for a few days off the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, after a fire broke out on board on February 16. The ship, which left Germany and was to join the United States, was 90 nautical miles (about 170 kilometers) southwest of the island of Faial when the alert was given. The 22 crew members were quickly rescued. They were initially evacuated on board an oil tanker, which had been diverted on the spot to participate in the rescue operations, before being transported to the island of Faial on board a military helicopter. In the days that followed, the fire continued to spread on board this approximately 200-meter-long vessel. Lithium batteries were the cause of the disaster, according to several media, but the information has not been confirmed. 1,100 Porsches were carried in the ship Volkswagen said the ship was carrying "nearly 4,000 vehicles from several brands of the group including 1,100 Porsches". The fire could generate “expected losses of at least $155 million for Volkswagen,” analyst firm Russell estimated last week. At the site of the sinking, it is possible to see "debris and oily residues" which are being monitored, said the Portuguese navy, adding that navy divers, equipped in particular with safety barriers anti-pollution detention, had to go to the site. A military aircraft must also monitor the state.

A freighter carrying thousands of luxury vehicles from the Volkswagen group, which caught fire almost two weeks ago off the Azores archipelago, was wrecked on Tuesday morning March 1, the Portuguese navy announced. The vessel lost its stability during the towing operation "The merchant ship Felicity Ace sank" approximately 25 nautical miles (46 km) from the Portuguese exclusive economic zone," the navy said in a statement. The sinking of the freighter, which "lost its stability", occurred during the towing operation, which began on February 24, in an area whose depth is approximately 3,000 meters. The "Felicity Ace", flying the Panamanian flag, found itself adrift for a few days off the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, after a fire broke out on board on February 16. The ship, which left Germany and was to join the United States, was 90 nautical miles (about 170 kilometers) southwest of the island of Faial when the alert was given. The 22 crew members were quickly rescued. They were initially evacuated on board an oil tanker, which had been diverted on the spot to participate in the rescue operations, before being transported to the island of Faial on board a military helicopter. In the days that followed, the fire continued to spread on board this approximately 200-meter-long vessel. Lithium batteries were the cause of the disaster, according to several media, but the information has not been confirmed. 1,100 Porsches were carried in the ship Volkswagen said the ship was carrying "nearly 4,000 vehicles from several brands of the group including 1,100 Porsches". The fire could generate “expected losses of at least $155 million for Volkswagen,” analyst firm Russell estimated last week. At the site of the sinking, it is possible to see "debris and oily residues" which are being monitored, said the Portuguese navy, adding that navy divers, equipped in particular with safety barriers anti-pollution detention, had to go to the site. A military aircraft must also monitor the development of the situation.