At least it wasn't one of ours.....

How about a catapult to send any thermally active cars directly overboard ? There is no method to fight a lithium fire, it just has to burn itself out. Either that or ship the batteries in a separate vessel and reunite them with their rides once unloaded.

It looked like a total loss before it sunk:


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Quote of the day:

Pat Adamson, a spokesperson for the Felicity Ace's operator said to Bloomberg: “And then she sank, which was a surprise.”

 

...to 30,000 feet........that's deep man...real deep.

At least in SC the local pilot used momentum only to run it aground, saving not only the Crew's lives but the channel into the port as well.
The props were in the air and they had all but lost steerage.

Crappy boat, IMO

 

Robert Ballard, here's your next TV special!

 

Man, the environmental impact of this is quite saddening. What a shame for all involved as well.

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What environmental impact is that you are thinking of?

Other than the ship's fuel tanks, it seems basically everything that could burn has done so, just ashes remain.

Everyday volcanoes around the world emit volumes of toxic (to humans) gases that far exceed that of what burned on the Felicity Ace.

https://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2015/volcano-230915

http://sci.sdsu.edu/how_volcanoes_work/Volcanic_gases.html

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/11157_2015_14

 

I'm talking about the thousands of gallons of fuel oil that will go into the sea. And the likelihood of everything on board has turned to inert ashes is zero. Batteries, plastics etc. none of it good. You respond to me as if I was a treehugger from Greenpeace, but I'm not. But I do care about what possible impact this incident may have even though it might not be on the scale of Exxon Valdez.

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But would not most of the debris remain within the vessel's structure and be well contained? The batteries are mostly natural chemicals. The fuel will likely remain contained in its tanks but if not, oil is completely natural and there are weeps throughout the oceans worldwide.

https://www.whoi.edu/oilinocean/page.do?pid=51880

I have zero concerns whatsoever.

You may find this link particularly enlightening;

https://www.livescience.com/5422-natural-oil-spills-surprising-amount-seeps-sea.html

 

Monday quarterback here.. IHO that's just not smart. If there is a risk for EV battery fires, you run simulations of one catching fire in the hold and buffer it with vehicles that will mitigate the risk for spread. Worst case use a reusable car cover or partition resistant to about 1000 deg. That and use ocean water to keep the surrounding non-EV battery cars cool.

 

Thats a very “its not in my backyard so dont care” response.

Good to hear you dont care about humans impact on the environment.

As to whats onboard, in addition to the ships fuel oil there will be lube oil, bilge water, ballast water, refrigerant gases (although low volumes), fuel and oils from the vehicles being transported, whats left of their batteries, plastics, rubber etc etc all of which will have released various toxins in particulate form etc etc.

So probably not an issue to you directly some thousand miles away; but certainly an issue to the local eco system and surrounding environment…but who cares eh?

 

The reason it is of zero concern is the earth itself produces far more toxins on a very regular basis and the major components of the batteries, outside of the plastics, are natural materials, same for the electric motors. The oceans are full of lithium in brine form. Please review the links I have provided to further the understanding.

 

Another way to look at it, if the Felicity Ace made it to a port and was offloaded, exactly where would all of the burned debris be placed? The ship itself was a total loss even if it did not sink, it would likely been scuttled somewhere (i.e. intentionally sunk) as it would likely never make it to a scrap yard.
https://www.marinelogbuyersguide.com/category/maritime-services/ship-recycling

 

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https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-01/burnt-out-ship-carrying-4-000-vw-vehicles-sinks-in-rough-seas

Sank in 9000 ft depths.
Unlikely we will ever know the precise cause, despite the allegations pointing to the EV batteries.......
Doubtless VW will take some steps to avoid a repeat; even with insurance they're out $140mm......

 

So what's the safe way to ship EVs and or batteries? Separate?
Airtight cases for batteries? Shrink wrap em?
Still need oxygen for combustion, right?

It's got to be figured out. Quickly.

 

I agree to what you are saying, it is an ecological problem. The only thing I think of is there were literally thousands of ships sunk during WW II. That pollution would dwarf whatever might flow from the Felicity Ace. Somehow the oceans have survived it. I've even read some wrecks actually aided sea life. Not that you want that pollution in the ocean of course.

 

https://cfpa-e.eu/container-puts-out-inextinguishable-fires-in-electric-cars/

from the link:

A fire in an electric car battery is a chemical fire and does not require oxygen. Therefore, inert gas has no effect on the battery but is intended for the other parts of the car. Indeed, the development of heat from the battery can potentially cause the cabin to burst into flames. And since it’s a confined space – at least until the windows burst – the water can’t get in there. Therefore, inert gas is required to smother the flames, explains Michael Kim Andersen.

...

If there is a fire in an electric or hybrid car, we are acutely aware that the smoke may contain hydrogen fluoride, which is extremely harmful. Even small doses can result in water in the lungs. Therefore, we also take the precaution of using fresh air breathing apparatus from a greater distance than we would in a normal car fire, says Michael Kim Andersen.

 

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OK, Chem was a long time ago.

TIL : the reason why lithium batteries are dangerous is that lithium fires do not require oxygen, and so once a lithium fire starts (for example, by overheating, overcharging, puncturing, or shorting out a lithium battery), it can sustain itself even if deprived of oxygen.

So. What's the safe absolutely bulletproof way to ship lithium batteries? Can they be encased in something?? I mean, the container idea referenced is great for one vehicle, but what do you do w 4000?

 

Maybe the best option is to stop making them...

 

Ain't happening.

If I were the Danish guys that developed this "anti lithium conflagration" box, I'd be buying cargo containers and retrofitting em as fast as I could. You want an EV "fire" to sink your ship?
Wanna write the next Lloyd's policy on a container ship?
They can build all they want, but if they can't get them to market?? Watch.

 

No video of the actual sinking?

Marcel Massini

 

She be sent to Davy Jones' Locker

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that ship was leaving or approaching Georgia I saw it last year while being cut up pretty interesting... it was full of KIAs which are built in Ga and had some Porsches a few Ferraris heading to the Mid East etc... The Kias were piled as scrap near the marina we spent the night at.... NEW BRUNSWICK GA.
interesting if this if this is the sister ship

 

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a36263540/golden-ray-cargo-ship-salvage-update/

Golden Ray was owned and operated by Hyundai Glovis, not same as Felicity Ace (Snowscape Car Carriers)

And the Felicity Ace car was self-insured by VW so no policy on the cars...

 

https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/lost-cars-aboard-sunken-felicity-ace-will-be-replaced-say-brand-ceos

Ukraine suppliers, amazingly, still making some wire harnesses amid war; VW Group adjusting, but war is forcing an energy rethink.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/44802/sunk-cargo-ship-forces-lamborghini-to-restart-aventador-production

Lamborghini Restarting Aventador Production After Final Cars Sank on Felicity Ace Ship
Fifteen of the final Lamborghini Aventadors were aboard the Felicity Ace when it sank in the Atlantic last month.

Lamborghini will replace the 15 Aventador Ultimaes that are roughly 10,000 feet underwater off the coast of Portugal.

 

Hmm....

https://nypost.com/2022/03/31/vw-to-recall-over-100000-plug-in-hybrids-due-to-fire-risk/

It seems likely those fire risking hybrids that took down the Felicity Ace....