Burning car carrier Fremantle Highway under tow

Towing of the Japanese owned Fremantle Highway started on Sunday afternoon according to the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

It said that smoke from the stricken vessel had subsided considerably on 30 July allowing salvors Multraship and Smit Salvage to board the vessel and add an extra towage connection.

As of 5pm local time on Sunday the vessel was being towed slowly and in a controlled manner of approximately 3 knots, 5.5 km/h by two tugs to a temporary anchorage 16 km north of Schiermonnikoog and Ameland.

The ship is being constantly monitored during the operation and expected time of arrival will depend on developments including weather and smoke from the vessel.

Once towed to the temporary anchorage salvors will make preparations to move the Fremantle Highway to a yet to be identified port.

The Fremantle Highway is owned Shoei Kisen Kaisha, chartered by K Line, and was enroute from Germany to Singapore when a fire erupted onboard in the late evening on 25 July off the coast of the Netherlands.

The crew attempted to extinguish the fire but failed in their attempt and all 23 were evacuated from the vessel, so jumping overboard. One seafarer died and several were injured as a result of the fire. The Dutch coastguard said it did not know how the seafarer had lost his life

Related:Video: Fire continues to rage on car carrier Fremantle Highway