800 Electric Vehicles Aboard Ship That Caught Fire \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A cargo ship carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 800 electric cars, was abandoned by its crew after a fire broke out off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of all 22 crew members, who were safely evacuated. The vessel, en route from China to Mexico, remains adrift with ongoing salvage operations underway.
Quick Looks
- A fire broke out on the cargo ship Morning Midas, carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 800 EVs.
- The ship was roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska, when the incident occurred.
- The 22 crew members abandoned the ship and were rescued by the nearby merchant vessel Cosco Hellas.
- Initial smoke was observed from the stern deck loaded with electric vehicles, according to Coast Guard photos.
- The fire could not be contained by the onboard suppression system.
- Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s operator, confirmed ongoing firefighting and salvage operations.
- The Coast Guard dispatched air and sea units to assist with the emergency.
- Morning Midas was built in 2006 and sails under a Liberian flag.
- The ship departed Yantai, China, on May 26 and was bound for Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico.
- The cause of the fire remains unknown; thick smoke continues to emit from the vessel.
Deep Look
A dramatic maritime emergency unfolded in the North Pacific this week as a fire engulfed the cargo vessel Morning Midas, prompting a full-scale evacuation of the crew and a growing salvage operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard.
Fire Breaks Out Near Electric Vehicles
The 600-foot-long ship, operated by Zodiac Maritime and registered in Liberia, was transporting 3,000 vehicles, including 800 electric vehicles (EVs), from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, when a fire erupted on Tuesday. According to a statement from the company and photographic evidence released by the U.S. Coast Guard, smoke was first spotted billowing from the stern — the deck area where the electric vehicles were stored.
Evacuation and Rescue at Sea
Unable to contain the growing fire with the onboard fire suppression systems, the 22-member crew made the decision to abandon ship. They launched a lifeboat and were quickly rescued by the nearby merchant vessel Cosco Hellas, which responded to the distress call. The rescue occurred approximately 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska, in remote and often treacherous waters.
Rear Admiral Megan Dean, who leads the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District, expressed gratitude to the responding vessels, noting, “We are grateful for the selfless actions of the three nearby vessels who assisted… and the crew of Cosco Hellas, who helped save 22 lives.”
Fire Still Burning, Salvage Operations Begin
As of Wednesday afternoon, smoke continued to rise from the Morning Midas, although the extent of the damage and the status of the fire remained unclear. Zodiac Maritime confirmed that a tug vessel had been deployed to support firefighting and salvage operations, and that it was working with emergency responders to ensure crew safety and marine environmental protection.
“We are working closely with relevant authorities,” the company stated. “Our priorities are to ensure the continued safety of the crew and protect the marine environment.”
The Coast Guard said it had dispatched both aerial and maritime units to the area, though the exact timeline and plan for recovering the vessel remain uncertain.
Broader Concerns Over EV Safety at Sea
This incident has reignited concerns over the risks posed by transporting electric vehicles by sea, especially after a 2023 fire aboard a freighter off the Dutch coast that was carrying nearly 500 EVs. That earlier blaze resulted in one death, multiple injuries, and a fire that raged for a week before the vessel could be salvaged.
In the wake of that disaster, a Dutch safety board issued calls for improved emergency procedures and fire protocols, especially when dealing with large numbers of lithium-ion batteries — the kind used in electric vehicles. Industry experts note that these batteries can be volatile when damaged or improperly stored, raising the fire risk on large cargo vessels.
With container and car-carrying ships growing larger every year — some now longer than three football fields — and more than 80% of the world’s trade traveling by sea, incidents like the Morning Midas fire are becoming a focal point in maritime safety discussions.
What’s Next for Morning Midas?
The current location and condition of the Morning Midas are being monitored closely. U.S. authorities and Zodiac Maritime will face questions in the coming weeks about how the fire began, how effective safety protocols were, and whether additional precautions should be mandated when transporting EVs.
For now, the successful rescue of all 22 crew members is being hailed as a best-case scenario amid a potentially catastrophic situation at sea.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.