The burnt-out car carrier “Fremantle Highway” is being taken to China for extensive repairs.
Shipbroker Friday Shipbrokers has signed a charter contract with offshore giant Boskalis for the transportation of the ship, which has since been named “Floor”. The crossing is expected to take 55 days.
Friday Shipbrokers has chartered the heavy-lift semi-submersible “Boka Vanguard”. Once it arrives in China, the wreck will be extensively restored and will be put back into service next year as the “Floor” under a new flag in response to the growing demand for PCTCs (Pure Car and Truck Carriers).
“Fremantle Highway” burnt out last year
The 200-metre-long “Fremantle Highway” caught fire in the North Sea a year ago and one crew member died in the accident. The wreck was brought to Rotterdam, whereupon insurers classified the ship as a total loss. The Dutch company Koole Contractors bought the wreck from the original owner, Lustre Maritime, from Japan for the symbolic sum of €1 and removed all the damaged and burnt-out decks. The ship was recently sold to China.
Premiere for Friday Shipbrokers
This is the first project of its kind for S&P shipbrokers Friday Shipbrokers. “Brokering this deal with Boskalis, the Chinese charterers and HCS (Hamburg Chartering Services) was an exciting and challenging project,” said shipbroker Justin Archard. “From the first contact, we thoroughly vetted potential vessels and ultimately chose the ‘Boka Vanguard’ because of her unrivalled capabilities. I was delighted to be able to advise both parties and facilitate a mutually beneficial outcome.”
In preparation for the crossing to China, the “Boka Vanguard” was submerged for twelve hours to a depth of 24 metres so that the former “Fremantle Highway” could be carefully manoeuvred on board by tugs and secured with specially made props. This delicate process was successfully completed thanks to the collaboration between Boskalis and other key partners.
Despite significant fire damage, only the car decks of the ship were affected. All structural elements below the main deck remained intact, allowing for a cost-efficient refit instead of a lengthy and expensive newbuild. The ship has been in service since mid-October.
