Ghost Ship Adrift: The Mystery of a Stranded Vessel Loaded with Chinese Automobiles in the Pacific

According to Bloomberg News, a cargo ship named the Morning Midas was left adrift in the Pacific Ocean after a fire broke out on board. This vessel was transporting around 3,000 vehicles from various Chinese automakers, including Chery Automobile Co. and Great Wall Motor Co., destined for Mexico. The exact brand of the electric vehicle that ignited remains uncertain as investigations are still in their early stages.

The ship set sail from Yantai, a city in eastern China known for its automotive industry, wich includes a plant operated by SAIC Motor Corp. that manufactures Buick Envision models. Local reports suggest that Anji Logistics, part of SAIC, chartered the Morning Midas.

On Tuesday, smoke was first detected on one of the decks of the ship; it carried approximately 800 electric vehicles among its cargo. Even though crew members attempted to extinguish the flames promptly, they were unable to contain them effectively. Zodiac Maritime, managing the vessel’s operations, confirmed that emergency responders were dispatched to assist with firefighting efforts.

The U.S. coast Guard reported that this incident occurred about 300 miles south of Adak Island in Alaska and successfully evacuated all 22 crew members by transferring them to another merchant vessel nearby.

Interestingly enough, while Great Wall Motor had around 140 cars aboard at the time of the incident—none being battery-powered EVs and not located near where the fire started—Chery representatives chose not to comment on this situation when approached for details.

In light of these events and considering how shipping logistics can impact global trade dynamics—especially with rising concerns over safety protocols for transporting electric vehicles—it’s crucial for companies involved in such operations to reassess their risk management strategies moving forward.