NewsVolkswagen Group Faces Lawsuits Over Catastrophic Cargo Ship Fire

Volkswagen Group Faces Lawsuits Over Catastrophic Cargo Ship Fire

ARISH, EGYPT - MARCH 10: The Emirati floating hospital stands in Al-Arish port to receive the injured Palestinians on March 10, 2024 in Arish, Egypt. The shipment, with 3,000 tons of food, medicine and equipment, was arranged by Kizilay, the Turkish Red Crescent. In recent days, the United States and other countries have announced a plan to create a temporary pier off the coast of Gaza to allow for more aid delivery, with frustrations growing at the pace of aid delivery by land.(Photo by Ali Moustafa/Getty Images)

Images source: © GETTY | Ali Moustafa

MLG

12:45 PM EDT, March 10, 2024

The cargo ship was en route from the German port of Emden to the USA. It never made it to its destination. The Portuguese navy and air force successfully evacuated 22 crew members from the engulfed ship.

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The car carrier was loaded with 3,965 vehicles, featuring brands like Bentley, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Audi.

The value of just the submerged vehicles is estimated at $155 million, not including the ship's cost, according to moto.pl.

Almost two years after the incident, the case has resurfaced due to two new lawsuits filed.

"Porsche received the first lawsuit, filed by the ship's operator – Mitsui OSK Lines in partnership with insurer Allianz. The reason? The fire was reportedly started by an electric Porsche that self-ignited without any apparent cause," reports the industry service.

"The second lawsuit targets the Volkswagen Group, with Mitsui OSK Lines and Allianz alleging that the German conglomerate hid information about the risks of transporting electric vehicles," moto.pl adds.