Lawsuits after freighter sinking
Millions of euros in damages demanded from Porsche
March 6, 2024, 9:03 p.m
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Two years ago, a fire broke out on the freighter “Felicity Ace,” which was transporting thousands of new VWs. The ship sinks into the sea, and now the ship owner and insurer are demanding millions in damages. It could be expensive for Porsche, among others.
After a car freighter sank, the ship owner and insurance companies are suing Porsche and another VW company for damages. The plaintiff is asserting claims totaling almost 30 million euros against the sports car manufacturer, as a spokesman for the Stuttgart regional court announced upon request. A second case – against Porsche and another, unnamed Volkswagen company – is currently pending in Braunschweig.
The approximately 200-meter-long car freighter “Felicity Ace” was traveling from Emden to the USA in February 2022 when a fire broke out on it near the Azores in the Atlantic. The ship later sank during a towing attempt. There were almost 4,000 new cars from various VW brands on board, including Porsche vehicles.
The origin and cause of the fire remain unclear. This is now being argued in court. According to the Stuttgart regional court, the ship’s owner, who is based in Tokyo, Japan, claims that the fire started from a Porsche whose lithium-ion battery allegedly caught fire. The owner states, among other things, that Porsche did not point out the danger and necessary precautions when transporting its electric vehicles with high-performance batteries.
A spokesman for the sports car manufacturer did not comment on the details of the proceedings: “Porsche AG confirms that it has been served with civil lawsuits in Germany in connection with the sinking of the ‘Felicity Ace’. Since these are ongoing proceedings, we can “We cannot provide any further details at this time.”
There is no date for the oral hearing in Stuttgart yet. The proceedings are suspended due to mediation before the Braunschweig regional court. This is scheduled to take place in March. However, a court spokesman in Braunschweig did not provide any details about the proceedings there, as the matter had not yet been heard publicly. “If the appointment remains inconclusive, the proceedings will continue in dispute before the responsible civil chamber,” it said. According to the courts, the lawsuits were filed in spring 2023.