A cargo vessel carrying nearly 3,000 vehicles, including around 800 electric models, has sunk in the Pacific Ocean following a major fire earlier this month, the ship&rsquo;s management company has confirmed.
The vessel, Morning Midas, had been adrift and abandoned after catching fire on 3 June approximately 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, part of Alaska&rsquo;s Aleutian chain. The blaze, combined with severe weather conditions and water ingress, ultimately led to the vessel sinking in international waters, some 415 miles from land. The ship now lies at a depth of approximately 16,400 feet, according to London-based Zodiac Maritime.
&ldquo;There is currently no visible pollution,&rdquo; stated Petty Officer Cameron Snell, spokesperson for the US Coast Guard in Alaska. &ldquo;We have vessels on scene to monitor and respond to any signs of pollution.&rdquo;
The Morning Midas, a 600-foot car carrier built in 2006 and registered under the Liberian flag, was en route from Yantai, China, to the Mexican port of L&aacute;zaro C&aacute;rdenas when the incident occurred. The ship had departed China on 26 May, loaded with nearly 3,000 new vehicles destined for the Mexican market. It remains unclear whether any vehicles were offloaded before the vessel sank. Zodiac Maritime has yet to provide further details.
Among the vehicles onboard were approximately 70 fully electric cars and 680 hybrids. According to initial reports from the US Coast Guard and Zodiac Maritime, thick smoke was observed billowing from the ship&rsquo;s stern, where the electric vehicles were stored.
All 22 crew members were safely evacuated into a lifeboat and rescued by a nearby merchant ship. No injuries among the crew were reported.
Following the fire, the US Coast Guard deployed aircrews and a cutter to attempt to extinguish the flames. However, the blaze persisted, prompting the dispatch of a specialist salvage team several days later.
Two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control equipment remain at the site to monitor for debris and environmental risks. Zodiac Maritime has also dispatched an additional pollution response vessel as a precautionary measure.
This incident follows similar recent maritime fires involving electric and hybrid vehicles, which have raised concerns over the risks associated with transporting such cargo at sea.

Morning Midas carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 800 EVs, sinks in Pacific

The fire, weather, and water ingress sank the ship 415 miles off the coast, Zodiac said

Cargo Ship with 3,000 Vehicles Sinks After Fire

The fire, weather, and water ingress sank the ship 415 miles off the coast, Zodiac said

June 25, 2025 | 09:29 IST