A fire broke out on a ro-ro cargo ship at the Port of Zeebrugge, Belgium, on Wednesday, burning approximately 60-70 vehicles.

The fire started around 15:00 on the third deck of the ro-ro vessel *Delphine* at CLdN Terminal in Zeebrugge. The deck was carrying 60 electric vehicles (EVs) and 40 conventional cars. The captain ordered the evacuation of all 26 crew members but remained onboard to coordinate firefighting efforts with emergency responders. Four firefighting tugboats also arrived at the scene, providing cooling water on the starboard side.

To suppress the blaze, the captain sealed the cargo hold and activated the CO₂ fire suppression system. According to Dirk de Fauw, Vice Chairman of the port, the system worked as intended, helping contain the fire. *"The electric vehicles produced intense smoke, making firefighting more challenging,"* he said.

Firefighters remain on standby overnight due to the risk of reignition. Authorities are transporting inert gas (nitrogen) from Antwerp to flood the hold and prevent oxygen from reigniting smoldering materials. *"The vehicles are no longer burning, but any fresh air intake could restart the fire. We must avoid that,"* officials stated. *"However, it’s still uncertain whether the situation is fully under control."*

An estimated 60-70 vehicles were destroyed, though the exact extent of damage remains unclear. No injuries or pollution have been reported, but containment barriers were deployed as a precaution.

The *Delphine* (IMO 9789245, MMSI 248189000) is a Malta-flagged ro-ro vessel built in 2018.

Zeebrugge, Belgium’s second-largest port after Antwerp, serves as the seaport for Bruges.

Ro-ro ship fires pose significant risks, with EV proliferation exacerbating potential hazards. Fires can spread rapidly in enclosed decks, and EV fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish. New industry guidelines urge operators to prioritize early evacuation, ventilation shutdown, and CO₂ flooding before fires escalate.