Latest news with #ResolveMarine
New York Post
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- New York Post
Ship transporting thousands of cars sinks in Pacific after fire, raising concerns about EV batteries
A ship holding thousands of cars sank in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, weeks after a fire broke out on a deck that was holding electric vehicles – stoking industry concerns around transporting highly flammable batteries. The 600-foot-long Morning Midas had been adrift at sea since June 3, when flames broke out and the crew was forced to abandon ship. The ship was carrying 3,000 cars, including 800 EVs, when it sank in international waters approximately three miles deep, according to the ship's owner, London-based Zodiac Maritime. The Morning Midas vessel had been adrift at sea since June 3, when a fire broke out. AP It had been weakened by fire damage and intense weather, the company said. 'As a precaution, two salvage tugs containing pollution control equipment remain on site to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris. Their crews are safe,' Zodiac Maritime told The Post in a statement. 'A specialized pollution response vessel is also en-route to the location as an additional precaution.' The company said it is working with the US Coast Guard and Resolve Marine, which specializes in marine emergency response. The Coast Guard and Resolve Marine did not immediately respond to The Post's requests for comment. Most of the vehicles on board the vessel were made in China and headed toward Mexico. The sinking raises concerns about the dangers of the highly flammable lithium-ion batteries typically used in electric vehicles. The ship had been weakened by fire damage and intense weather when it sank. USCoast Guard. Just two weeks ago, Waymo was forced to suspend service of its driverless EVs in downtown Los Angeles after anti-ICE protesters set five of its vehicles ablaze. Police officers warned residents to steer clear of the melted metal heaps, since the batteries can release toxic fumes, like hydrogen fluoride, when set on fire. In 2022, a 60,000-ton cargo ship called the Felicity Ace carrying thousands of luxury cars sank in the Atlantic Ocean after a fire on board burned for nearly a week. Experts hired to salvage the ship said the large amount of lithium batteries likely caused the fire to spread and stay ablaze for longer.
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Business Standard
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Cargo ship carrying over 3,000 vehicles sinks in Pacific Ocean after fire
A cargo ship carrying thousands of vehicles sank in the Pacific Ocean on 23 June, weeks after a fire broke out onboard. The vessel, Morning Midas, was travelling from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, when the incident occurred. Salvage company Resolve Marine—also involved in the cleanup of the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore—confirmed that the ship sank in international waters, according to media reports. Two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control systems remain at the site to monitor for oil leaks and floating debris. Vessel carried electric, hybrid, and conventional vehicles Managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime, the Morning Midas was transporting more than 3,000 vehicles, including approximately 70 fully electric and 681 hybrid models. The ship, built in 2006 and registered under the Liberian flag, was a 600-foot (183-metre) long car and truck carrier. The cargo reportedly included vehicles from manufacturers such as SAIC Motor, Chery Automobile, and Great Wall Motor. Fire traced to electric vehicle deck The fire began on 3 June while the ship was located around 360 nautical miles southwest of Adak, Alaska. The source was traced to a deck carrying electric vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries, used in EVs, are known to pose fire risks if damaged. According to Zodiac Maritime, 'Damage caused by the fire, compounded by heavy weather and subsequent water ingress, caused the Morning Midas to sink at around 16:35 local time zone (UTC -9) on 23 June, in waters approximately 5,000 metres deep and 360 nautical miles from land.' Crew safely rescued; authorities respond All 22 crew members were safely evacuated on 5 June. After abandoning the ship in a lifeboat, they were rescued by the nearby container ship COSCO Hellas. The US Coast Guard deployed aircrews to Adak and dispatched a ship to support the rescue operation. Photographs shared by the Coast Guard showed smoke emerging from the stern, specifically from the EV deck. Zodiac Maritime earlier said: '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.' Lithium-ion battery transport flagged as growing risk
