Cargo Ship Disappeared Into Smoke With More Than 3,000 Vehicles And EVs Remaining Trapped Below Deck (Updated) | Carscoops

      The Morning Midas was transporting over 3,000 vehicles, including at least 70 electric cars and 681 hybrid cars, when a fire broke out in the Pacific Ocean. The incident occurred three hours ago.

      A car carrier ship caught fire and was subsequently abandoned while off the coast. The crew, consisting of 22 members, was rescued, but they were unable to extinguish the fire.

      According to updates from the U.S. Coast Guard about the Wednesday incident, which took place around 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska, the vessel is a 600-foot cargo ship registered in Liberia and operated by a UK company. It has been confirmed to carry a total of 3,048 vehicles, including the aforementioned electric and hybrid models.

      The Coast Guard has indicated that the status of the fire is still unclear, with smoke continuing to rise from the ship. Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District, mentioned that as the search and rescue operations conclude, their teams are collaborating with the ship’s manager, Zodiac Maritime, to determine the vessel's future. She expressed gratitude for the nearby vessels that provided assistance, including the motor vessel Cosco Hellas, which helped save all 22 crew members.

      In the original report, it is noted that while electric vehicle sales may be lagging behind automakers' expectations, recent events remind us that electric cars are indeed flammable. The cargo ship was en route from Asia to North America when the fire broke out, leading the crew to evacuate and leaving thousands of new cars onboard.

      The Morning Midas left China for Mexico on May 26, carrying approximately 3,000 cars, around 800 of which were electric. Eight days into its 19-day journey, smoke was seen coming from one of the decks shortly after midnight UTC (7:00 p.m. EST) on June 3. Zodiac Maritime confirmed that the fire started in the area of the ship designated for electric vehicles.

      Firefighting efforts proved ineffective against the blaze. Zodiac Maritime reported that the crew promptly followed emergency protocols and activated the onboard fire suppression systems, but were unable to control the flames.

      After contacting the U.S. Coast Guard, the crew decided to abandon the vessel, taking to a lifeboat before being rescued by a nearby merchant ship. The fate of the thousands of cars aboard remains uncertain as the fire continues to burn.

      This is not the first incident involving a ship carrying electric vehicles catching fire at sea. Three years prior, another ship carrying 4,000 vehicles, including luxury brands like Porsche and Lamborghini, also caught fire in the Atlantic. Despite attempts to tow the Felicity Ace to safety, it sank after burning for two weeks.

      On that occasion, all 22 crew members were saved, but the VW Group later indicated that their insurance was facing a $155 million claim to cover the lost vehicles, and Lamborghini even reinitiated production of the discontinued Aventador to replace one customer's lost car.

      Some shipping companies, like Norway's Havila Kystruten, have started to refuse to transport electric vehicles, citing the heightened risk. However, as electric vehicles are expected to dominate the automotive market, alternative shipping methods will need to be developed to transport them effectively.

      Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.

      Photos: U.S. Coast Guard courtesy of Air Station Kodiak.