Fire on Car Carrier Morning Midas: Crew Evacuated, Salvage Operations Underway

After the car carrier Morning Midas was abandoned in the mid-Pacific, efforts are ongoing to monitor its position while salvage experts hurry to the scene. A team from Resolve Marine is expected to take nearly four days to reach the burning ship, which is located approximately 300 miles southwest of Adak in the Aleutian Islands.

The vessel’s managers, Zodiac Maritime, reported that smoke was detected on one of the car decks around 14:00 local time on June 3. According to the US Coast Guard, there are a total of 3 048 vehicles on board, including 70 fully electric and 681 hybrid vehicles. Zodiac indicated that the smoke was initially observed coming from a deck that carried electric vehicles.

Due to the severity of the fire and concerns for crew safety, Zodiac made the decision to abandon the ship. The 22 crew members entered a lifeboat and were rescued by the containership Cosco Hellas, which had diverted to assist.

A spokesperson for Zodiac Maritime stated:

“We are proud of the diligent efforts of our crew in responding to the fire onboard. They immediately activated the vessel’s well-drilled emergency firefighting protocols and deployed the onboard fire suppression systems, all of which were fully operational.”

Recent images from the US Coast Guard, which has been conducting aerial surveillance of the area, show smoke rising from the vessel. Zodiac has noted that no pollution has been observed, and the Morning Midas remains afloat but continues to burn.

Resolve Marine has been appointed, and their first tug, carrying a team of salvage specialists and specialized equipment, is already en route to the vessel. However, Zodiac has stated that they will not reach the ship until approximately June 9.

Until the salvage team arrives, Zodiac reports that it can monitor the vessel using onboard satellite-connected systems. However, this only allows for tracking the vessel’s location, with limited capability to assess other onboard conditions.

Once the salvage team arrives, they will evaluate the vessel’s condition and provide necessary support. An additional fire-fighting tug, capable of ocean towing, is being arranged for further assistance.

The vessel had visited multiple ports in China, and local media confirmed that it is operating under a charter for SAIC Anji Logistics. Bloomberg reports that it is carrying several brands of cars, including models from Chery Automobile Co. and Great Wall Motor Co. The vessel was en route to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico.