Cargo ship carrying new vehicles to Mexico sinks in the North Pacific weeks after catching fire
ANCHORAGE, Alaska: A cargo ship that had been delivering new vehicles to Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean, weeks after crew members abandoned ship when they couldn't extinguish an onboard fire that left the carrier dead in the water.
The Morning Midas sank Monday in international water off Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain, the ship's management company, London-based Zodiac Maritime, said in a statement.
'There is no visible pollution,' said Petty Officer Cameron Snell, an Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson. 'Right now we also have vessels on scene to respond to any pollution.'
Fire damage compounded by bad weather and water seepage caused the carrier to sink in waters about 16,404 feet (5,000 meters) deep and about 415 miles (770 kilometers) from land, the statement said.
The ship was loaded with about 3,000 new vehicles intended for a major Pacific port in Mexico. It was not immediately clear if any of the cars were removed before it sank, and Zodiac Maritime did not immediately respond to messages Tuesday.
A salvage crew arrived days after the fire disabled the vehicle.
Two salvage tugs containing pollution control equipment will remain on scene to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris, the company said. The crew members of those two ships were not injured when the Morning Midas sank.
Zodiac Maritime said it is also sending another specialized pollution response vessel to the location as an added precaution.
The Coast Guard said it received a distress alert June 3 about a fire aboard the Morning Midas, which then was roughly 300 miles (490 kilometers) southwest of Adak Island.
There were 22 crew members onboard the Morning Midas. All evacuated to a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby merchant marine vessel. There were no injuries.
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A big cargo ship called Morning Midas , which was carrying around 3,000 new cars to Mexico, sank in the North Pacific Ocean near Alaska. The ship had caught fire weeks earlier and couldn't be saved. The ship caught fire on June 3 while sailing about 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska. The fire was big, the 22 crew members had to evacuate into a lifeboat and were rescued safely by a merchant ship nearby. The fire and what happened next No one was hurt in the fire or the rescue. After the fire, the ship was left disabled in the ocean, and a salvage crew reached it days later. On Monday, the ship finally sank in deep international waters, about 415 miles away from land near Alaska's Aleutian Islands. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Knee pain prices might surprise you Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo The water there is around 16,400 feet deep, making recovery tough. The sinking was caused by a mix of fire damage, bad weather, and water leaks. The ship was carrying about 70 fully electric cars and 680 hybrid vehicles, which were likely affected by the fire, according to a CBS News report. Ship, fuel, pollution risk, and safety plans The ship had left Yantai, China, on May 26, heading toward Mexico. The Morning Midas was 600 feet long, built in 2006, and was sailing under the Liberian flag. There was a lot of fuel on board, about 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil. Live Events There was a lot of fuel on board, about 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil. The U.S. Coast Guard said there's no pollution seen right now but ships are nearby in case anything spills. Two salvage tug boats with pollution control gear are staying at the spot to watch for oil or debris. The crew of those tugs are safe, as stated by CBS News report. A special pollution control ship is also being sent just in case. Captain Christopher Culpepper from the U.S. Coast Guard said they're focused on safety and working closely with Zodiac to handle any pollution quickly. A similar tragedy happened in 2023, where another ship carrying 3,000 cars caught fire including 500 EVs and burned for a week. One person died in that case. The Dutch safety board now wants to improve emergency plans for ships carrying electric vehicles, according to the CBS News report. FAQs Q1. What happened to the Morning Midas ship? The Morning Midas caught fire and later sank in the North Pacific Ocean near Alaska. Q2. What was the ship carrying? It was carrying around 3,000 new vehicles, including 70 electric and 680 hybrid cars.
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First Post
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Cargo ship delivering 3,000 vehicles to Mexico sinks in Pacific Ocean weeks after catching fire
A cargo ship that had been delivering new vehicles to Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean, weeks after crew members abandoned ship when they couldn't extinguish an onboard fire that left the carrier dead in the water read more In this photo provided by the US Coast Guard, smoke rises from cargo vessel Morning Midas approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska, on June 3, 2025. AP File A cargo ship that had been delivering new vehicles to Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean, weeks after crew members abandoned ship when they couldn't extinguish an onboard fire that left the carrier dead in the water. The Morning Midas sank Monday in international water off Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain, the ship's management company, London-based Zodiac Maritime, said in a statement. 'There is no visible pollution,' said Petty Officer Cameron Snell, an Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson. 'Right now we also have vessels on scene to respond to any pollution.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Fire damage compounded by bad weather and water seepage caused the carrier to sink in waters about 16,404 feet (5,000 meters) deep and about 415 miles (770 kilometers) from land, the statement said. The ship was loaded with about 3,000 new vehicles intended for a major Pacific port in Mexico. It was not immediately clear if any of the cars were removed before it sank, and Zodiac Maritime did not immediately respond to messages Tuesday. A salvage crew arrived days after the fire disabled the vehicle. Two salvage tugs containing pollution control equipment will remain on scene to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris, the company said. The crew members of those two ships were not injured when the Morning Midas sank. Zodiac Maritime said it is also sending another specialized pollution response vessel to the location as an added precaution. The Coast Guard said it received a distress alert June 3 about a fire aboard the Morning Midas, which then was roughly 300 miles (490 kilometers) southwest of Adak Island. There were 22 crew members onboard the Morning Midas. All evacuated to a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby merchant marine vessel. There were no injuries. Among the cars were about 70 fully electric and about 680 hybrid vehicles. A large plume of smoke was initially seen at the ship's stern coming from the deck loaded with electric vehicles, the Coast Guard and Zodiac Maritime said at the time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Adak is about 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) west of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The 600-foot (183-meter) Morning Midas was built in 2006 and sails under a Liberian flag. The car and truck carrier left Yantai, China, on May 26 en route to Mexico, according to the industry site A Dutch safety board in a recent report called for improving emergency response on North Sea shipping routes after a deadly 2023 fire aboard a freighter that was carrying 3,000 automobiles, including nearly 500 electric vehicles, from Germany to Singapore. One person was killed and others injured in the fire, which burned out of control for a week. That ship was eventually towed to a Netherlands port for salvage.
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FILE - In this photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, smoke rises from cargo vessel Morning Midas approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska, June 3, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard/Courtesy of Air Station Kodiak via AP, File) (AP) Check Offers A cargo ship that had been delivering new vehicles to Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean, weeks after crew members abandoned ship when they couldn't extinguish an onboard fire that left the carrier dead in the water. The Morning Midas sank Monday in international water off Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain, the ship's management company, London-based Zodiac Maritime, said in a statement. 'There is no visible pollution," said Petty Officer Cameron Snell, an Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson. "Right now we also have vessels on scene to respond to any pollution." Fire damage compounded by bad weather and water seepage caused the carrier to sink in waters about 16,404 feet (5,000 meters) deep and about 415 miles (770 kilometers) from land, the statement said. The ship was loaded with about 3,000 new vehicles intended for a major Pacific port in Mexico. It was not immediately clear if any of the cars were removed before it sank, and Zodiac Maritime did not immediately respond to messages Tuesday. A salvage crew arrived days after the fire disabled the vehicle. Two salvage tugs containing pollution control equipment will remain on scene to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris, the company said. The crew members of those two ships were not injured when the Morning Midas sank. Zodiac Maritime said it is also sending another specialized pollution response vessel to the location as an added precaution. The Coast Guard said it received a distress alert June 3 about a fire aboard the Morning Midas, which then was roughly 300 miles (490 kilometers) southwest of Adak Island. There were 22 crew members onboard the Morning Midas. All were evacuated to a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby merchant marine vessel. There were no injuries. Among the cars were about 70 fully electric and about 680 hybrid vehicles. A large plume of smoke was initially seen at the ship's stern coming from the deck loaded with electric vehicles, the Coast Guard and Zodiac Maritime said at the time. Adak is about 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometres) west of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. The 600-foot (183-meter) Morning Midas was built in 2006 and sails under a Liberian flag. The car and truck carrier left Yantai, China, on May 26 en route to Mexico, according to the industry site A Dutch safety board in a recent report called for improving emergency response on North Sea shipping routes after a deadly 2023 fire aboard a freighter that was carrying 3,000 automobiles, including nearly 500 electric vehicles, from Germany to Singapore. One person was killed and others injured in the fire, which burned out of control for a week. That ship was eventually towed to a Netherlands port for salvage. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date: 25 Jun 2025, 13:04 PM IST
