Porsche: Mitsui O.S.K. Lines files suit and demands compensation for damages
・Porsche admitted the facts of the lawsuit
・Fire on car carrier was caused by EV batteries
We will provide you with a summary of articles published in the Nikkei Shimbun.
Car carrier fire:
A car carrier catches fire near Portugal’s Azores Islands.
Photographed by the Portuguese Navy in February 2022.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines sues Porsche:
It was revealed on the 6th that Mitsui O.S.K. Lines has filed a lawsuit against Porsche for damages. .
Cause of fire on car carrier:
The court ruled that the culprit was the battery of the electric vehicle (EV) on board.
There is a debate over how to manage the risk of battery ignition when transporting EVs.
Response from MOL:
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines responded to an interview with the Nikkei Shimbun.
The company said, ”It is true that we have filed a lawsuit against Porsche.”
Porsche’s answer:
Porsche acknowledged the facts of the lawsuit.
However, “as the litigation is ongoing, we cannot comment on the details.”
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOGR05DY70V00C24A3000000/
The Felicity Ace：
Operated by Mitsui O.S.K.,
It caught fire and sank near the Azores in February 2022.
The fire originated from a Porsche electric vehicle loaded on the vessel, according to the suit.
A spokesperson for Mitsui O.S.K. confirmed it had filed the suit against Porsche.
Porsche also acknowledged that it was facing a lawsuit, but declined to comment further.
The lawsuit which was filed in a court in Stuttgart, Germany,
It seeks 30 million euros ($32.6 million) in damages, according to the court.
Mitsui O.S.K. claims ：
En route from Germany to the U.S. , loaded with 3,965 vehicles by the VW Group,including Porsches, Audis, Bentleys and Lamborghinis.
Mitsui O.S.K. claims the lithium-ion battery in a Porsche EV caused the fire,
Porsche failed to inform the company beforehand of the risks of transporting EVs or any necessary precautions.
Porsche is reportedly disputing the location and cause of the fire.
The Felicity Ace sank：
3,000 meters to the bottom of the ocean, making salvage difficult.
The origin of the fire has not been determined.
According to Allianz.
In 2022, eight vessels were lost to fire, according to a study by insurance giant Allianz Group, below the 10-year average of about 12 ships.
At the same time, there were 209 fires aboard ships in 2022, up 17% from 2021 and highest figure in a decade.
Thirteen of those fires occurred on vehicle carriers, and their connection to EVs is unclear,
Norwegian shipping company :Havila Kystruten
has stopped transporting EVs and hybrid vehicles, citing a risk assessment by a consulting company.
Domestic peer Hoegh Autoliners has stop carrying used EVs.
But sea transport of EVs is expected to grow along with China’s surging exports.
Mitsui O.S.K. announced
In November, it would install security cameras powered by artificial intelligence on 10 new liquefied natural gas-fueled car carriers on order.
The cameras will alert crewmembers about suspected fires.