- Fire Breaks Out on Vehicle-Laden Vessel in Zeebrugge.
- Blaze Hits Europe’s Largest Ro/Ro Vessel in Belgium.
- EV-Fueled Fire Engulfs Cargo Deck in Zeebrugge.
A massive fire erupted in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 16, 2025, on a roll-on/roll-off cargo ship berthed at a terminal within the Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium. The ship, which is the world’s largest of its type to be in short-sea transport, was carrying 260 vehicles, 110 of which were electric cars and some internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles when the fire occurred, reports Marine Insight.
Fire Breaks Out on Third Deck
The fire broke out, reportedly at around 15:00 CET, on the third deck of the vessel, which had on board 60 electric vehicles and 40 standard cars. The origin of the fire remains undisclosed, though the location and nature of the cargo made it difficult for emergency crews from the beginning.
Crew Evacuated, Captain Stays On Board
After the fire erupted, the crew of the vessel activated emergency procedures. The entire crew of 26 people were evacuated on instructions from the captain, who elected to stay aboard to help in coordinating the firefighting operations.
Swift Response by Emergency Agencies
Local emergency responders acted promptly, with firefighting units and four specialised tugboats arriving to supply cooling water to the starboard side of the vessel. The damaged deck was sealed off, ventilation equipment closed, and onboard CO2 suppression equipment was deployed according to new industry fire response procedures for ro/ro ships.
Fire Sealed Off, But Dense Smoke Blocks Efforts
Authorities confirmed that the fire was successfully extinguished, although thick smoke caused by the combusting electric cars proved to be very problematic.
“The vehicles are no longer burning, but as soon as fresh air comes onto the deck we will have a resurgence,” the local fire brigade told media outlet HLN.
Nitrogen Deployed to Stabilise Conditions
In another measure to ensure no re-ignition, emergency crews initiated pumping nitrogen into the damaged compartment to drive out oxygen and establish a state of inertness. Nitrogen was shipped in from Antwerp and injected during overnight hours, as internal deck temperatures touched 100°C.
Fire Deemed Extinguished, Recovery Progresses
The fire was officially confirmed as out on Thursday, April 17, morning. Recovery operations are likely to take a number of days despite this, with vehicles and trailers being cautiously taken off the vessel.
“It is not a matter of hours, but rather of days before all the cars are out of the hold and the trailers are back on shore,” said Irk de Fauw, vice-chairman of the Port of Zeebrugge and Mayor of Bruges. Early estimates suggest that approximately 60 to 70 vehicles were destroyed, although a full damage assessment is still ongoing.
No Pollution or Injuries Reported
Luckily, no injuries were reported in the incident. Also, no environmental pollution has been detected by the authorities. Containment barriers were put around the vessel as precaution, and port activities elsewhere proceeded without hindrance. A security perimeter was set up by federal police around the dock where the blaze occurred as investigations and recovery operations continue.
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Source: Marine Insight
