Cargo ship carrying electric vehicles catches fire off Alaska

A fire broke out on the cargo ship Morning Midas while it was transporting 3,000 vehicles from China to Mexico, including 800 electric vehicles, according to AP News.

The fire began Tuesday on a deck loaded with electric vehicles while the vessel was in the North Pacific Ocean, about 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska.

The 22 crew members aboard were forced to abandon the ship after firefighting systems failed to control the blaze.

They evacuated into a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby vessel, the Cosco Hellas, the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed.

Emergency response and rescue operation

The U.S. Coast Guard reported that it deployed aircrews to Adak Island and dispatched a vessel to the scene.

Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District, said in a statement that the immediate search and rescue mission had concluded.

Rear Admiral Dean said: “We are grateful for the selfless actions of the three nearby vessels who assisted in the response and the crew of motor vessel Cosco Hellas, who helped save 22 lives.”

Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s London-based management company, confirmed that firefighting efforts were initiated onboard but failed to bring the fire under control.

The company stated: “The relevant authorities have been notified, and we are working closely with emergency responders with a tug being deployed to support salvage and firefighting operations.

“Our priorities are to ensure the continued safety of the crew and protect the marine environment.”

Ongoing investigation and vessel status

As of Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Coast Guard reported that smoke continued to emanate from the vessel.

It added that the fire’s status remained unclear.

Zodiac Maritime is coordinating with response teams to assess the condition of the vessel and develop a recovery plan.

The Morning Midas was built in 2006, is 600 feet long, and sails under a Liberian flag.

It departed Yantai, China, on 26 May, and was en route to the Pacific port of Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico.

Broader context on shipping safety

The incident follows a similar case in 2023 when a ship carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 500 electric vehicles, caught fire en route from Germany to Singapore.

That fire resulted in one fatality and caused extensive damage, prompting the Dutch Safety Board to call for stronger emergency response measures on North Sea shipping routes.

Concerns have been raised over the risks associated with electric vehicles and other cargo transported by sea.

More than 80% of international trade by volume is shipped by sea, with many modern cargo vessels exceeding 300 metres in length.

Ship fire off Alaska: Cargo vessel crew evacuated: Summary

A cargo ship caught fire off the coast of Alaska on Tuesday while transporting 3,000 vehicles.

The ship was carrying 800 electric vehicles on board.

The vessel, Morning Midas, was located 300 miles southwest of Adak Island.

The fire originated from a deck loaded with electric vehicles.

The crew attempted to control the fire using the onboard fire suppression system.

They were unsuccessful and abandoned ship.

All 22 crew members were rescued by the merchant ship Cosco Hellas.

The ship is managed by Zodiac Maritime, based in London.

Zodiac Maritime confirmed a tug is being sent for salvage efforts.

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched aircrews and a vessel to the scene.

Smoke was still visible from the ship as of Wednesday afternoon.

The vessel was en route from Yantai, China, to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico.

The ship was built in 2006 and sails under a Liberian flag.

Rear Admiral Megan Dean praised the rescue efforts.

The fire is being compared to a 2023 North Sea incident involving electric vehicles.

Shipping industry experts are examining marine fire risks related to vehicle transport.