A cargo ship carrying more than 3,000 new vehicles destined for Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean on Monday, weeks after a fire forced its crew to abandon ship.
According to Zodiac Maritime, the London-based management company overseeing the vessel, the incident occurred in international waters off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. The ship, the Morning Midas, has now sunk to the bottom of the ocean after efforts to save it failed.
Vessel Sinks After Weeks Adrift
The ship, a 600-foot Liberian-flagged vehicle
carrier built in 2006, had been dead in the water since early June after a fire broke out onboard. The ship was en route from Yantai, China, to a major Pacific port in Mexico when the fire erupted about 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska's southernmost city.
The fire, which began on June 3, could not be extinguished by the crew, prompting all 22 members to evacuate to a lifeboat. They were subsequently rescued by the crew of the merchant vessel Cosco Hellas, one of three nearby ships that responded to the Coast Guard’s urgent broadcast for assistance,
according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District.
“There were no injuries,” the Coast Guard confirmed, adding that the crew’s rescue was made possible by the “selfless actions of the three nearby vessels who assisted in the response and the crew of motor vessel Cosco Hellas, who helped save 22 lives.”
Fire and Weather Damage Lead to Sinking
After the crew’s evacuation, the Morning Midas remained adrift as fire damage, worsening weather, and water seepage compromised the vessel’s integrity, Zodiac Maritime said. On June 24, the ship sank in waters approximately 16,404 feet deep and about 415 miles from land.Petty Officer Cameron Snell, a spokesperson for the Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard, said in a statement, “There is no visible pollution. Right now we also have vessels on scene to respond to any pollution.”
Zodiac Maritime reported that two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control gear remain at the site to monitor for any environmental impact, and a specialized pollution response vessel is en route as a precaution.
Cargo Included Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
The Morning Midas was transporting roughly 3,000 vehicles, including about 70 fully electric and 680 hybrid models.The Coast Guard estimated the ship was carrying about 350 metric tons of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tons of very low-sulfur fuel oil at the time of the fire.
The Zodiac Maritime did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NTD.
The Coast Guard’s response included deploying a C-130J Super Hercules aircrew from Air Station Kodiak and positioning an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter in Adak to assist with the rescue and initial fire assessment. Salvage crews arrived in the days following the fire, but the combined effects of the blaze and harsh weather ultimately led to the ship’s loss.
This
incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of fire risks associated with transporting electric vehicles by sea. A recent Dutch safety board report has called for improved emergency response protocols on shipping routes following a deadly 2023 fire on a freighter carrying nearly 500 electric vehicles from Germany to Singapore, which resulted in one death and several injuries.
Ongoing Monitoring and Investigation
Authorities and Zodiac Maritime continue to monitor the site for any sign of pollution or debris, with specialized vessels on standby to respond as needed. The Coast Guard is also working with Zodiac Maritime to determine the final disposition of the vessel and to coordinate ongoing recovery efforts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
