ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: Weeks after a devastating fire erupted on board, the cargo ship Morning Midas, laden with thousands of automobiles, including electric vehicles, has finally succumbed to the North Pacific Ocean. The London-based Zodiac Maritime, the vessel’s management company, confirmed that the ship sank on June 23, approximately 415 miles from land in international waters off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands chain.
The 600-foot Liberian-flagged vessel, which departed from Yantai, China, on May 26 en route to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, initially caught fire on June 3. Smoke was first observed emanating from a deck believed to be carrying electric vehicles. Despite the crew’s efforts to extinguish the blaze, the intensity of the fire forced all 22 crew members to abandon ship, who were subsequently rescued without injury.
According to Zodiac Maritime, the severe damage caused by the prolonged fire, coupled with adverse weather conditions and significant water seepage, ultimately led to the Morning Midas‘s demise. The ship descended to a depth of approximately 16,404 feet (about 5,000 meters) in the vast expanse of the Pacific. The Morning Midas was carrying 3,048 vehicles, including 70 fully electric vehicles and 681 hybrid electric vehicles, as well as 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil.
While the immediate concern following the sinking is potential environmental contamination, a US Coast Guard spokesperson, Officer Cameron Snell, stated that there was no “visible pollution” in the aftermath of the incident. He assured that US Coast Guard vessels are on standby to respond immediately should any signs of pollution be detected. Two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control equipment remain on site, actively monitoring the area. A specialized pollution response vessel is also en route as a precautionary measure.
This incident highlights growing global concerns regarding fire safety on ships carrying electric vehicles, which have been implicated in several recent maritime fires. The long-term environmental impact of the sunken vehicles and fuel will be a subject of ongoing monitoring and assessment in the coming weeks and months.
Join our whatsapp group for Latest updates
Click Here for Chhattisgarh News
Click Here for Entertainment News