A car carrier severely damaged by fire earlier this month has sunk in the North Pacific Ocean, more than three weeks after the initial outbreak onboard.
The Morning Midas, a Liberia-flagged vessel managed by Zodiac Maritime, was transporting nearly 5,000 vehicles, including around 800 electric cars, when fire broke out on 3 June. Despite efforts to contain the blaze and salvage the ship, it succumbed to damage and adverse weather conditions, sinking on 23 June approximately 360 miles off the nearest landmass.
The ship’s operator confirmed in a statement that water ingress, exacerbated by stormy seas, ultimately led to the vessel’s loss. Smoke was first observed rising from a deck carrying electric vehicles, raising concerns about the heightened risk posed by lithium-ion battery fires in maritime transport.
The depth at the location of the sinking is estimated to be around 5,000 metres, reducing the likelihood of any immediate environmental response or investigation. The fire and sinking have renewed scrutiny on the shipping industry’s preparedness for managing EV-related incidents at sea.
The Morning Midas was en route to Mexico with vehicles from several Chinese manufacturers, including Chery and Great Wall Motors. Salvage operations led by Resolve Marine were hampered by the vessel’s remote location, with support vessels arriving more than a week after the fire began.
The car carrier, built in 2006, measured nearly 183 metres in length and had a capacity of just under 5,000 car equivalent units (CEU). It is understood that Allianz Commercial led the insurance cover for the vessel’s hull and machinery, while its protection and indemnity (P&I) insurance was placed through the Steamship Mutual Club.
The incident is likely to add pressure on insurers and operators to reassess risk protocols for transporting electric vehicles, especially given the growing share of EVs in global car exports. A recent report by Allianz highlighted the challenges posed by battery-related fires on ro-ro and car carrier ships, calling for enhanced detection systems and training.
No crew were reported injured, and all personnel had been evacuated prior to the ship’s final descent. Authorities are expected to monitor for any signs of environmental impact, although the vessel’s depth is likely to limit surface pollution.
