Emergency Response Team Deployed to Blaze on Car Carrier 'Morning Midas' Near Alaskan Waters

Image Credits: USCG
A recent publication by the U.S.Coast Guard reveals that a specialized salvage team is gearing up to address an ongoing fire on the cargo ship Morning Midas,which is currently afloat but still ablaze approximately 340 miles southwest of Adak,Alaska.

This 600-foot vessel, operated by Zodiac Maritime from London, ignited on June 3 while traveling from Yantai, China to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. It was transporting around 3,159 vehicles—among them were about 65 fully electric and 681 hybrid models.

Despite the crew’s swift action in activating emergency firefighting measures, the flames escalated beyond control. Fortunately, all 22 crew members managed to evacuate safely and were rescued by a nearby container ship named Cosco Hellas without sustaining any injuries.

The salvage tug equipped with fire experts and necessary gear is anticipated to arrive at the scene around June 9. Additionally, another firefighting tug capable of towing the Morning Midas is being organized. Simultaneously occurring, Zodiac Maritime continues to track the vessel’s location via satellite; though, monitoring conditions onboard remain limited.

Image credits: USCG
According to reports from overflights conducted by U.S. Coast Guard personnel, smoke continues to billow from the ship; though, there are no indications of it sinking or taking on significant water. So far, no pollution has been detected in nearby waters either.Authorities have issued advisories for mariners to steer clear of this area due to safety concerns.

The Morning Midas carries an estimated load of about 350 metric tons of gas fuel along with approximately 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil—factors that heighten urgency for containment efforts. This Liberian-flagged vessel was built in 2006 and boasts a clean inspection history with no recent issues reported.

This incident adds another chapter to a troubling trend involving car carrier fires associated with electric vehicles; notable past incidents include those involving Fremantle Highway in early 2023 and Felicity Ace in late 2022—which ultimately sank after burning for several days.

To manage this situation effectively while ensuring environmental protection and crew safety remains paramount; Zodiac Maritime has enlisted Resolve Marine’s expertise for salvage operations while collaborating closely with U.S.Coast Guard officials among others involved in this critical response effort.