800 electric vehicles (EVs) were among the 3,000 vehicles on board a cargo ship that tragically sank in the Pacific Ocean after catching fire earlier this month. The crew of Zodiac Maritime’s Morning Midas abandoned the ship after the fire broke out on June 3 while it was in waters off the Aleutian Islands in Alaska and they were unable to contain it.
A massive smoke plume that could be seen from the ship’s stern was released when the fire began in the deck, which was packed with electric vehicles. EVs’ lithium-ion batteries, which are normally safe but have the potential to overheat and catch fire if damaged, were thought to have contributed to the fire’s severity. Thankfully, a nearby private vessel rescued the 22 crew members who were safely evacuated using lifeboats.

According to Zodiac Maritime, the Morning Midas went down on June 23 in waters that were roughly 5,000 meters deep and 360 nautical miles from land. The company said in a statement that the damage from the fire and the severe weather caused water to enter the ship, which ultimately caused it to sink. Around 16:35 local time (UTC -9), the incident took place.
The vehicles were being transported from Yantai, China, to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, aboard the Morning Midas, a 600-foot (183-meter) cargo ship constructed in 2006. This incident highlights the dangers of shipping electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries, which can catch fire if they are damaged during transit, even though the fire was put out and the crew was safely evacuated.
The Morning Midas sinking emphasizes the need for improved safety procedures for cargo ships transporting such hazardous materials and the increasing difficulties encountered in the maritime transportation of electric vehicles.