The cargo vessel Morning Midas, which caught fire earlier this month while transporting nearly 3,000 vehicles including 800 electric vehicles (EVs) has sunk in the Pacific Ocean, the ship’s management confirmed.
According to Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s manager, the vessel went down at 16:35 local time (UTC -9) on June 23, approximately 360 nautical miles from land and in waters about 5,000 metres deep.
“Damage caused by the fire, compounded by heavy weather and subsequent water ingress, caused the Morning Midas to sink,” the company stated.
Timeline of the Incident
The Morning Midas, a 600-foot car and truck carrier built in 2006 and sailing under the Liberian flag, was en route from Yantai, China, to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, when it caught fire on June 3 off the coast of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. A massive plume of smoke was first seen rising from a deck carrying electric vehicles, raising concerns about lithium-ion battery fires.
All 22 crew members on board safely evacuated via lifeboat and were later rescued by a nearby private vessel.
Firefighting and Salvage Efforts
Following the incident, the U.S. Coast Guard and private emergency responders were deployed to the site, with aircrews stationed in Adak and a tugboat sent to support firefighting and salvage operations.
However, rough sea conditions and extensive fire damage hampered containment efforts. Eventually, water ingress rendered the ship unsalvageable, leading to its sinking.
Environmental Concerns
While authorities have been notified, concerns now shift to the environmental impact of the ship’s sinking, especially considering the presence of electric vehicles and lithium-ion batteries on board. EV battery fires are notoriously hard to extinguish and can cause significant chemical pollution if not contained.
No oil spill or immediate environmental hazards have been confirmed yet, but monitoring efforts are expected to continue.