A massive cargo ship loaded with brand-new vehicles destined for Mexico has sunk deep in the North Pacific Ocean, just weeks after being crippled by a severe onboard fire. The ill-fated vessel, Morning Midas, finally went under on Monday in remote international waters off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, according to Zodiac Maritime, the London-based company managing the ship.
The Morning Midas had been adrift and heavily damaged since June 3, when its crew of 22 was forced to abandon ship after a fire broke out onboard. The blaze, which originated near a deck carrying electric vehicles, proved uncontrollable. All crew members were safely rescued by a nearby merchant ship, with no injuries reported.
The source of the fire is still under investigation, but initial reports indicated that smoke was seen rising from a section of the deck where around 70 electric and nearly 700 hybrid vehicles were stored… raising renewed concerns over EV fire risks during shipping.
Despite the arrival of salvage teams, worsening weather conditions, fire damage, and water seepage ultimately led to the vessel’s demise. The Morning Midas sank in waters estimated to be over 16,000 feet deep, around 415 miles off the Alaskan coast.
At the time of its sinking, the ship was carrying approximately 3,000 new vehicles, and it’s currently unclear if any were salvaged prior to going under. The ship had departed Yantai, China, on May 26 and was bound for a major port in Mexico.
The Coast Guard reported that the vessel had roughly 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and over 1,500 metric tons of low-sulfur fuel onboard. However, there are currently no signs of an oil spill.
Pollution response teams are on site with two salvage vessels equipped to contain any potential fuel leaks or floating debris. Zodiac Maritime has also deployed an additional specialized vessel as a preventive measure.
“Our top priority is ensuring the safety of responders and protecting the marine environment,” said Capt. Christopher Culpepper, commander of Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska and the U.S. Arctic.
