Morning Midas cargo ship, carrying 3,000 vehicles including 800 electric cars, sank in the Pacific Ocean after lithium-ion battery fires forced evacuation of all 22 crew members, raising urgent concerns about the safety of transporting EVs by sea.
Key Takeaways
- The 600-foot Morning Midas sank after battling fires that originated on a deck carrying approximately 800 electric vehicles, highlighting the growing dangers of transporting EVs by sea.
- All 22 crew members were safely evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard after failing to control the spreading fire, which began on June 3.
- EV fires are notoriously difficult to extinguish, requiring up to 8,000 gallons of water to cool lithium-ion batteries, with limited effectiveness in confined spaces like cargo ships.
- This incident mirrors the 2022 sinking of the Felicity Ace in the Atlantic, establishing a concerning pattern of catastrophic maritime disasters linked to EV transport.
- Salvage operations are underway with pollution control equipment deployed to monitor potential environmental threats from the sunken cargo.
Electric Vehicle Fires Force Crew to Abandon Ship
The Morning Midas, a 46,800-ton vessel carrying approximately 3,000 cars from China to Mexico, was abandoned in the Pacific Ocean after a devastating fire broke out on June 3. The blaze originated on a deck holding about 800 electric vehicles, quickly spreading beyond control despite crew efforts to contain it. When firefighting attempts failed, all 22 crew members were safely evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard, leaving the burning vessel to drift aimlessly at sea. The ship had departed Yantai, China on May 26, making stops at Nansha and Shanghai before the catastrophic fire erupted during its Pacific crossing.
“Smoke was first seen coming from a deck on the Morning Midas that was carrying about 800 EVs, the ship’s manager Zodiac Maritime said in a statement,” said Zodiac Maritime.
The incident highlights the growing concerns regarding lithium-ion battery fires in marine transport. These batteries, essential components of electric vehicles, present unique firefighting challenges that conventional maritime safety systems struggle to address. When lithium-ion batteries enter thermal runaway—a self-reinforcing overheating condition—they release toxic fumes and can reach temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Most concerning for maritime safety experts is that these fires require extraordinary amounts of water—up to 8,000 gallons—to sufficiently cool the batteries, resources often unavailable in sufficient quantities at sea.
Environmental Concerns and Salvage Operations
After drifting helplessly for weeks, the fire-damaged Morning Midas finally succumbed to intense weather conditions and structural weakening, sinking in international waters. Zodiac Maritime, the vessel’s owner, has deployed salvage tugs equipped with pollution control equipment to monitor the sinking site for potential environmental hazards. The company is also dispatching a specialized pollution response vessel as an additional precaution. With thousands of vehicles now resting on the ocean floor, including hundreds containing lithium-ion batteries, environmental experts worry about potential long-term contamination of marine ecosystems.
Most vehicles aboard the Morning Midas were manufactured in China and destined for Mexican markets, representing a significant economic loss beyond the vessel itself. Zodiac Maritime continues to work closely with the U.S. Coast Guard and Resolve Marine to manage the emergency response and minimize environmental impact. The incident raises important questions about international shipping regulations and whether current safety protocols adequately address the unique hazards presented by electric vehicle transport, especially as global EV shipments continue to increase with the push toward “green” transportation alternatives.
Growing Pattern of EV Transport Disasters
The Morning Midas incident bears striking similarities to the February 2022 sinking of the Felicity Ace in the Atlantic Ocean. That car carrier was transporting approximately 4,000 vehicles, including luxury Porsches, Bentleys, and Audis, when lithium-ion battery fires led to its eventual sinking. These catastrophes point to a disturbing pattern as more electric vehicles enter the global shipping stream. Maritime safety experts note that ship designs and firefighting equipment developed for conventional cargo are inadequate for the intense, persistent fires associated with lithium battery thermal runaway events.
In response to these growing concerns, shipping industry stakeholders published new safety guidelines in early 2024 specifically addressing fire risks on car-carrying vessels. These recommendations include enhanced fire detection systems, specialized training for crew members, and modified storage protocols for electric vehicles. However, critics argue these measures remain insufficient given the fundamental challenges of fighting lithium battery fires in confined marine environments. As President Trump’s administration continues to prioritize traditional energy independence over rushed electrification, these maritime disasters provide compelling evidence that the headlong push toward electric vehicle adoption carries substantial unaddressed safety risks.
