The Portuguese navy said it rescued all 22 crew members via helicopter. Authorities described the rescue mission as “highly skilled and physically demanding.” The crew members were taken to a hotel on Faial Island in the Azores, according to the Associated Press. None of the crew members were injured in the fire.
“The ship is burning from one end to the other,” Cabecas said. “Everything is on fire about five meters [16 feet] above the water line.”
Tow boats from Gibraltar and the Netherlands are on their way to the site with three expected to be there by Wednesday, Cabecas told Reuters.
The ship will probably be towed to another European country or the Bahamas, according to the outlet.
It remains unclear how many of the thousands of luxury vehicles onboard have been lost in the blaze, but it’s probably millions of dollars worth. The Felicity Ace can carry more than 18,700 tons of cargo.
Depending on the model of the Porsche, the average price for the German-made vehicle can range from $101,000 to $174,000, according to U.S. dealers. In addition to the Porsches and Volkswagens, there were also 189 Bentleys on the ship, the Drive reported. Newer-model Bentleys can cost between $166,000 and $348,000, according to Car and Driver.
A spokesman for the Volkswagen Group confirmed that the Felicity Ace was transporting its vehicles to the United States but declined to elaborate on the extent of the losses.
“We are in contact with the shipping company to get more information about the incident,” said the spokesman, Dirk Ameer.
The Japanese shipping line Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, which operates the Felicity Ace, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
