Dutch authorities have towed the car-carrying freighter, Fremantle Highway, which caught fire in the North Sea, to the Dutch port of Eemshaven for salvage. The vessel was carrying 3,894 cars, including 498 electric vehicles (EVs). The fire, believed to be caused by an EV battery, raised concerns about pollution in the North Sea. The operation was delayed due to the difficulty of extinguishing lithium-ion battery fires.
Boeing has abandoned plans to develop a 777-300ER freighter conversion due to cost concerns, according to the CEO of Boeing Global Services. The company had previously announced plans to develop the conversion program in 2018. Instead, Boeing's Product Development team is studying a 787 freighter program, including a passenger-to-freighter conversion of the 787-8 and a new-build freighter program for the 787-9. The 787 freighter would be the successor to the 767 freighter, which will be prohibited from production due to new emissions standards from 2028.
A freighter carrying 20,000 metric tons of rock salt ran aground in the Detroit River near Belle Isle, but was freed several hours later with the help of a tugboat. The cause of the incident is still unknown, but the ship's owner is investigating. No injuries or pollution were reported. The Mark W. Barker is a relatively new and large vessel, christened last year, and is the first large bulk carrier built on the Great Lakes since 1981.
A freighter named Mark W. Barker ran aground in the Detroit River near Belle Isle after losing propulsion and getting stuck in mud. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the incident, and the freighter was hauling salt at the time.
