Morning Midas Sinks After Alaska EV Cargo Fire

The Morning Midas, a Liberian-registered cargo ship managed by Zodiac Maritime, caught fire on June 3 while transporting over 3,000 vehicles—including 70 electric and 681 hybrid cars—from China to Mexico and sank in international waters off Alaska on June 23. All 22 crew members were safely evacuated after firefighting efforts failed to control the blaze, which burned for weeks before the ship sank in water over 16,000 feet deep. The vessel was carrying approximately 1,880 metric tons of fuel, prompting concerns about environmental pollution, though no visible oil spill has been detected as of June 25. Salvage tugs and a specialized pollution response vessel remain on site to monitor for any signs of pollution. Investigators report the fire began near the deck with electric vehicles, but it is not yet confirmed if EV batteries contributed to the ignition. The incident highlights the ongoing risks of transporting large numbers of electric and hybrid vehicles and significant fuel loads by sea.