Car Carrier With EVs and Hybrids is Burning and Abandoned Mid-Pacific

The vehicle carrier Morning Midas was abandoned on Tuesday afternoon, June 3 in the mid-Pacific some 300 miles southwest of the remote Aleutian Islands after the crew was unable to control a fire aboard. The crew was rescued uninjured by a passing merchant ship while the U.S. Coast Guard Alaska was coordinating the effort.

The vessel, which is managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime, is reported to be carrying a total of 3,048 vehicles, with 70 being fully electric vehicles and 681 being partial hybrid electric vehicles. It was heading from China to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. Lloyd’s is reporting the vessel is operating under charter to China’s SAIC Anji Logistics.

“Smoke was initially seen emanating from a deck carrying electric vehicles,” reported a spokesperson for Zodiac Maritime. “The crew immediately initiated emergency firefighting procedures using the vessel’s onboard fire suppression systems. However, despite their efforts, the situation could not be brought under control.”

In consultation with the United States Coast Guard, the 22 crew abandoned the vessel using its lifeboat. The Coast Guard reports three merchant ships were directed to the scene and that the containership Cosco Hellas (107,500 dwt – registered in Malta) rescued the crew. They are all reported to be in good condition. 

The U.S. Coast Guard Alaska also diverted the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro to the area, directed the launch of a C-130J Super Hercules aircrew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, and positioned an MH-60T Jayhawk helicopter aircrew in Adak in the Aleutians. 

In the latest update from the U.S. Coast Guard on June 4, they are reporting the status of the fire is currently unknown, but smoke is emanating from the vessel. Morning Midas is estimated to have approximately 350 metric tons of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard. 

Morning Midas (12,250 dwt) is a Liberian-flagged Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), built in 2006 in China at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry. The vessel was cited during a port state inspection in Bremerhaven in October 2024 for unspecified issues with fire safety and launching arrangements for rescue boats, but it did not result in a detention. A subsequent standard inspection in Portland, Oregon by the U.S. Coast Guard in January 2025 found no issues with the vessel.

Electric vehicles have been a constant concern for the shipping industry with numerous reports of car fires. The fires are more difficult to handle because of the batteries prompting insurers and the industry to issue specific warnings about the handling of EVs. They have been believed to be the source of several other fires aboard ships.