
Ship carrying more than 3,000 vehicles catches fire near Alaska coast; has 750 EVs onboard
The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is suspected to be linked to the electric vehicles onboard the ship. (AFP) Check Offers
A fire on a cargo ship carrying electric vehicles off the coast of Alaska has caught fire. The salvage teams are expected to intervene on Monday. The ship is carrying more than 3,000 vehicles and of which around 750 are electric or hybrid.
AFP has reported that the Alaska Coast Guard received a distress call reporting a fire onboard the Morning Midas, a British-managed cargo ship with 22 crew members and carrying thousands of vehicles. The crew reportedly evacuated on a lifeboat before being rescued by another private vessel.
An overflight of the cargo ship, which is currently located around 547 kilometres southwest of Adak, has confirmed that the ship is still burning, the Alaska Coast Guard said in a statement. "Currently, there are no visual indications that the ship is taking on water or listing, and the extent of the damage is unknown," the statement said.
The New York Times has quoted Dustin Eno, a spokesman for the ship's management company, Zodiac Maritime, as saying that there were no firefighting vessels nearby to help extinguish the blaze. The Los Angeles Times has reported that a salvage team is expected to arrive on Monday.
Video footage released by the coastguard shows smoke rising from the 600-foot (183-meter) vessel, which is reportedly carrying more than 3,000 vehicles, and around 750 of those are electric or hybrid.
This is not the first time a ship carrying electric vehicles has caught fire. Over the last few years, several incidents have been reported where fire erupted in ships that were carrying electric vehicles and in many cases, first in the electric vehicles' lithium-ion batteries were responsible behind those first incidents. This time, it is not clear what caused the fire on the ship this time, but it is suspected that the electric vehicles onboard the ship could have some connection with the incident. Electric vehicles across the world are mainly powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are generally safe but can overheat and ignite if damaged, which could result in a devastating fire incident.
Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape.
First Published Date: 09 Jun 2025, 07:38 AM IST

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Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Ship carrying more than 3,000 vehicles catches fire near Alaska coast; has 750 EVs onboard
The cause of the fire is unknown, but it is suspected to be linked to the electric vehicles onboard the ship. (AFP) Check Offers A fire on a cargo ship carrying electric vehicles off the coast of Alaska has caught fire. The salvage teams are expected to intervene on Monday. The ship is carrying more than 3,000 vehicles and of which around 750 are electric or hybrid. AFP has reported that the Alaska Coast Guard received a distress call reporting a fire onboard the Morning Midas, a British-managed cargo ship with 22 crew members and carrying thousands of vehicles. The crew reportedly evacuated on a lifeboat before being rescued by another private vessel. An overflight of the cargo ship, which is currently located around 547 kilometres southwest of Adak, has confirmed that the ship is still burning, the Alaska Coast Guard said in a statement. "Currently, there are no visual indications that the ship is taking on water or listing, and the extent of the damage is unknown," the statement said. The New York Times has quoted Dustin Eno, a spokesman for the ship's management company, Zodiac Maritime, as saying that there were no firefighting vessels nearby to help extinguish the blaze. The Los Angeles Times has reported that a salvage team is expected to arrive on Monday. Video footage released by the coastguard shows smoke rising from the 600-foot (183-meter) vessel, which is reportedly carrying more than 3,000 vehicles, and around 750 of those are electric or hybrid. This is not the first time a ship carrying electric vehicles has caught fire. Over the last few years, several incidents have been reported where fire erupted in ships that were carrying electric vehicles and in many cases, first in the electric vehicles' lithium-ion batteries were responsible behind those first incidents. This time, it is not clear what caused the fire on the ship this time, but it is suspected that the electric vehicles onboard the ship could have some connection with the incident. Electric vehicles across the world are mainly powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are generally safe but can overheat and ignite if damaged, which could result in a devastating fire incident. Get insights into Upcoming Cars In India, Electric Vehicles, Upcoming Bikes in India and cutting-edge technology transforming the automotive landscape. First Published Date: 09 Jun 2025, 07:38 AM IST


News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Ship Carrying 3,000 Cars Burns For Over 24 Hours In The Middle Of Pacific Ocean
Last Updated: Fires involving EVs on ships are hard to extinguish due to extreme heat and the risk of reignition, often causing blazes to persist for days despite suppression efforts A significant maritime incident occurred approximately 300 miles off the coast of Alaska when a cargo ship Morning Midas, transporting 3,000 vehicles, caught fire. Among these vehicles were around 800 electric cars equipped with highly flammable lithium-ion batteries. The intensity of the fire made it too dangerous to control, leading the U.S. Coast Guard to allow the ship to burn for more than 24 hours. The fire ignited unexpectedly on a vessel travelling from China to Mexico, prompting the crew to abandon ship. The emergency signal was sent just 15 minutes after smoke was first seen on Tuesday afternoon. With no means to combat the fire, all 22 crew members evacuated to lifeboats as the fire intensified. Fortunately, a nearby commercial ship rescued them. The Coast Guard explained that overheating lithium-ion batteries can explode and release toxic gases, making any firefighting efforts extremely hazardous for both the crew and rescuers. As a result, the burning ship was monitored from a safe distance while awaiting the fire to subside. Watch The Video Here Video from the U.S. Coast Guard shows the massive cargo ship that caught fire 300 miles from the Alaskan coast earlier this more: — FOX Weather (@foxweather) June 6, 2025 According to Reuters, smoke was first observed emanating from a deck loaded with electric vehicles (EVs). The specific brands of the vehicles on board remain unknown. Fires involving EVs on ships are particularly difficult to put out due to the intense heat they produce and the risk of reignition, which can last for days. The Coast Guard reported that both aircrew and a cutter ship have been dispatched to help manage the situation, with three vessels already present at the scene. Zodiac Maritime, the London-based company that owns the ship, stated that no firefighting vessels were nearby, and a specialised rescue team is expected to arrive at the spot. US agencies are set to investigate the incident. The Morning Midas had departed Yantai, China, on May 26 and was scheduled to arrive at the port of Lazaro Cardenas in Mexico on June 15, passing through major electric vehicle export hubs like Shanghai and Nansha. According to the International Energy Agency, over 60 percent of EVs sold in Mexico in 2023-24 were imported from China. According to the Reuters report, in 2022, a vessel transporting 4,000 luxury cars, including Porsches and Bentleys, sank near the Portuguese Azores archipelago nearly two weeks after a fire broke out. Fires on ships, especially container ships, car carriers, and roll-on/roll-off vessels, are a major concern for insurers. Incidents of this nature across all types of vessels reached their highest level in a decade in 2024, as reported by Allianz Commercial. Allianz highlighted in its 2025 safety and shipping review report that the risk remains substantial due to the large size of these ships and the complex challenges involved in firefighting and salvage operations. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
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First Post
9 hours ago
- First Post
At least 15 killed after bus carrying university students smashed into a minivan in Malaysia
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