Ready for another giant-boat-related crisis the whole world can watch in real-time? Unlike the Ever Given, which jammed up the Suez Canal for six days in 2021, this one won't be affecting the global supply chain either — just the luxury car supply chain for a few thousand people.
A transport ship is currently on fire and abandoned in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, full of luxury cars that their buyers have been waiting months for.
The ship, named Felicity Ace, was traveling from its departing port of Emden, Germany to Davisville, Rhode Island, when a fire broke out in the cargo hold.
As the ship was sailing 90 nautical miles southwest of Portugal's Azores, the Portuguese Navy came to the rescue alongside the Ponta Delgada Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center. All crew members were rescued safely and are now staying in a local hotel.
The Felicity Ace is officially “not in command.”
Well, let's just say that if you happen to be someone who purchased a luxury car recently, you might see a delay in its delivery.
The Felicity Ace was carrying Porsche, Volkswagen, Bentley, and Audi vehicles.
See YouTuber Matt Farah of TheSmokingTire above, who purchased a 2022 Porsche Boxster Spyder and had already spent months waiting.
In another tweet, he wrote, "[...] the dealer has promised to keep me posted with any updates on how Porsche decides to sort this out. Odds are a new build and hopefully not another 8 months wait for it."
A patrol boat from the Portuguese Navy, as well as four merchant vessels, are aiding and assessing the situation, with the Portuguese Air Force also being mobilized. Once they fight this fire, the ship will hopefully still be in operational order, and with any luck, some of the cargo will remain intact.
h/t: Unilad
