With a global chip shortage putting finished new cars in short supply, the last thing that car makers need is the loss of any vehicles in transportation. But this is what has happened due to a fire on board the Felicity Ace cargo ship just off the Azores. 

The vessel was on route from Germany to the US when a fire broke out in the Atlantic and it had to be abandoned by its crew. After drifting, it has since been brought back under control, but a full damage assessment has not yet been possible. 

It is believed that the ship was carrying approaching 4000 vehicles from Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, and Lamborghini valued at around $400 million and destined for dealerships across the USA. 

Fighting a fire on such a massive vessel is difficult enough in mid ocean, but the efforts of the tugs sent to tackle the blaze have been further hampered by the fact that many of the vehicles being transported contained lithium-ion batteries which can be prone to reignition even after the initial fire has been extinguished.