The automobile service MV Fremantle Highway went up in flames within the North Sea final yr, consuming hundreds of name new Mercedes, BMWs and Minis. Some of the vehicles on board have been in ok situation to be salvaged, reconditioned and bought, however BMW doesn’t appear to need anybody to purchase these vehicles.
In summer time 2023 the MV Fremantle Highway began its journey to Egypt from Germany with almost 4,000 automobiles aboard. A fireplace that specialists suspect was began by an EV battery malfunction, broke out off the coast of The Netherlands, killing one of many 23 crew members.
After the fires have been put out lots of the automobiles have been left in good situation. Good sufficient to promote, or so the insurance coverage firm thought. BMW blocked the sale, nonetheless, because the Drive studies:
Surprisingly, round 1 / 4 of the three,857 vehicles aboard have been described as undamaged in Maritime Executive. 1 / 4 of their quantity—260 BMWs to be exact—can be bought off by a Taiwanese insurance coverage firm, and their purchaser would then resell the lot to a bunch of Dutch speculators in line with The Northern Times. The Dutch group reportedly claims the vehicles are in good situation, having solely gathered soot within the fireplace, and seeks to resell the salvaged automobiles. But BMW is having none of it.
The automaker reportedly filed a preliminary injunction in Dutch courts final December, claiming considerations over the vehicles’ security and the chance of reputational harm if the vehicles are allowed to be bought. An organization lawyer reportedly mentioned that the vehicles have been written off by insurance coverage as a “total loss” and that they’ve broken structural steel, wiring, and paint. They additionally reportedly declare that different intact automobiles salvaged from the ship, notably Audis and Mercedes-Benzes, have been recycled relatively than resold because of their situation.
So it may very well be that the automobile’s situations are worse than what everybody was led to consider. The Dutch appear to essentially need the vehicles although. They’re prepared to compromise with BMW and promote the vehicles exterior of Europe as a result of “automotive quality standards are less stringent” in line with the Northern Times. A courtroom is anticipated to rule on whether or not or not the vehicles may be bought on July 15.
If you’re looking out and are all for shopping for certainly one of these vehicles, bear in mind, shopping for automobiles broken in conditions like floods and fires may be dangerous enterprise, even riskier for those who discover out concerning the harm a lot later.
Source: jalopnik.com