Cargo Ship Carrying Luxury Cars To Rhode Island Sinks In Atlantic Ocean After Fire

DAVISVILLE, R.I. (CBS/AP) -- A large cargo vessel carrying luxury cars from Germany to Rhode Island has sunk in the mid-Atlantic nearly two weeks after a fire broke out on board.

The ship's manager and the Portuguese navy said the Felicity Ace sank Tuesday about 250 miles off Portugal's Azores Islands as it was being towed. A salvage team had put out the fire.

The fire broke out in the cargo hold of the 656-foot-long ship.

The ship was transporting electric and non-electric vehicles. Suspicion on what started the fire has fallen on lithium batteries used in electric vehicles. But authorities say they have no firm evidence about the cause.

A Portuguese Air Force helicopter evacuated the 22 crew members when the fire first broke out.

(© Copyright 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)