Burnt-out cargo vessel loaded at Rotterdam

The burnt-out carcass of the Fremantle Highway has been loaded onto Boka Vanguard, one of Boskalis’ specialist vessels in preparation for her transit to Asia, where she will be repaired and put back to work.

Fremantle Highway, which was carrying 3,000 vehicles from Germany to Singapore, including Audis, Lamborghinis and Porsches, caught fire in transit in the North Sea off the Dutch coast in August 2023.

Owned by Japanese tonnage provider Shoei Kisen Kaisha and managed by Wallem Ship Management, the vessel was being chartered by K-Line. Losses were calculated to be at least €300 million, reports said.

Now renamed Floor, the vessel was loaded onto Boka Vanguard, a semi-submersible heavy transport vessel 275 metres in length with a 70-metre wide deck.

“In the coming days, the cargo will be seafastened for the long voyage to the Far East, where Floor will undergo further repairs and modifications before returning to service,” said Boskalis.

BOKA Vanguard was built in 2012 and is propelled by two 8,700kW  and two 4,350kW main engines.