A cargo vessel carrying about 3,000 vehicles, of which 800 are electric vehicles (EVs), was involved in a fire in the North Pacific Ocean, forcing the evacuation of the entire 22-member crew.
It was about 300 miles off the coast of Adak Island, Alaska, while traveling from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico.
The fire occurred on board the Morning Midas, which is a 600-foot roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) freight ship constructed in 2006 and registered under Liberia. Smoke was first seen coming from the ship’s stern, which had electric vehicles loaded on board.
The fire could not be contained by the crew, even when they tried to do so with the fire-suppressing CO₂ system on board, and hence the crew had to be evacuated. They were rescued safely by the merchant ship Cosco Hellas, which was nearby. Source Reuters
The US Coast Guard responded with air and maritime aid and is presently working with the company managing the ship to decide on the recovery of the vessel. A tug has been sent in to assist salvage and fire-fighting efforts.
The incident highlights the difficulty of shipping electric vehicles, specifically relating to the danger posed by lithium-ion batteries.
The batteries are highly inflammable and are very difficult to put out once alight, and large quantities of water are usually needed to douse them. The cause of the fire is unknown, as it is under investigation, but the fact that electric vehicles were on board has caused concerns regarding maritime safety procedures when carrying such freight.
The Morning Midas fire contributes to a line of maritime accidents related to electric vehicles, which underscores the need to develop greater safety protocols and emergency response plans in the shipping industry. Read more about the incident in USA Today here– https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2025/06/04/ship-cars-abandoned-fire-evs/84030266007/
This post was last modified on June 12, 2025 6:26 pm
India’s EV market hit 1,04,056 electric two-wheeler sales in September 2025. TVS, Bajaj, and Ather led the chart, while Ola…
The future of mobility in India has taken a major leap forward. Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM), led by Founder Uday…
Electric bikes are no longer just about saving fuel or going green. Today, they’re also about power, safety, and smart…
The global shift toward electrification is reshaping industries, with batteries at the core of this transformation. Among emerging technologies, lithium…
Summary: Bengaluru-based EV startup Simple Energy has raised $10 million in a bridge round led by existing investors. The funds…
Montra Electric, the clean mobility brand of the Murugappa Group, has unveiled its state-of-the-art electric heavy commercial vehicle (eHCV) manufacturing…
This website uses cookies.