Alaska: The Morning Midas, a 600‑foot Liberian‑flagged car‑carrier built in 2006, capsized and sank in international waters of the North Pacific Ocean on June 23, weeks after a fierce onboard fire rendered the ship adrift.
On June 3, the vessel reported smoke from its stern, near the deck loaded with about 70 fully electric vehicles and nearly 730 hybrids, part of a 3,000‑vehicle cargo en-route from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. The US Coast Guard crews received the distress signal and responded with air support but were unable to extinguish the blaze. After sustaining uncontrollable fire damage, the crew abandoned ship on June 5 and was rescued by a merchant vessel, with no casualties reported.
Zodiac Maritime stated the combination of fire damage, heavy seas, and water ingress sealed the ship’s fate. The vessel sank around 16:35 local time (UTC–9) on June 23, into water depths near 5,000 metres, some 360–415 nautical miles from land.
Authorities report no visible pollution at the site. Two tugs equipped with pollution‑response gear remain on station, and an additional pollution‑control vessel has been dispatched. The US Coast Guard continues monitoring, standing ready to respond to potential debris or spills.
Analysts warn that lithium‑ion batteries in EVs pose unique fire risks, especially when transported in tightly packed carriers. Allianz highlights that EV fires are often hard to extinguish and can reignite, challenging containment aboard vessels.
Investigations into the full cause of the blaze are expected. Experts are calling for an industry‑wide reassessment of fire‑safety protocols on car carriers, particularly concerning electric and hybrid vehicles. Salvage teams will also continue environmental assessments near the sinking site.
