A huge fire broke out on a cargo ship near Alaska on Wednesday night. The ship carried thousands of cars, including electric vehicles with lithium-ion batteries. These batteries are highly flammable. The fire continued to burn for over 24 hours.
Smoke Emerged While Crossing the Pacific
According to the US Coast Guard, the fire started Tuesday afternoon. At that time, the ship was about 1,200 miles from Anchorage. Soon after the smoke appeared, the crew sent out a distress call—just 15 minutes later.
The ship, named Morning Midas, is 600 feet long. It belongs to Zodiac Maritime, a shipping company based in London.
All 22 Crew Members Evacuated Safely
Soon after the fire spread, all 22 crew members evacuated the ship using a lifeboat. Fortunately, a nearby commercial vessel rescued them safely, as the Coast Guard confirmed in a statement.
Coast Guard Letting Fire Burn Itself Out
Since lithium-ion batteries can explode when disturbed, the Coast Guard chose to monitor the ship from a safe distance. Instead of trying to put out the flames, they are allowing the fire to burn itself out.
No Firefighting Support Was Close By
Meanwhile, Dustin Eno, a spokesperson for Zodiac Maritime, said no firefighting vessels were available nearby. As a result, they expect a salvage team to arrive by Monday.
Additionally, Petty Officer Shannon Kearney from the Coast Guard’s Alaska unit said they would investigate what caused the fire.
Lithium Batteries Pose Fire Dangers
It’s important to note that lithium-ion batteries in electric cars can overheat. As a result, fires spread quickly and release toxic gas. These types of fires are very difficult to extinguish.
Morning Midas Was Loaded With Cars
The ship carried 3,000 cars, including 800 electric vehicles. It had left Yantai, China, on May 26, and later stopped in Shanghai and Nansha—major export hubs for Chinese electric vehicles.
The vessel was heading to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, and was expected to arrive on June 15. According to the International Energy Agency, China supplies over 60% of the electric vehicles sold in Mexico in 2023 and 2024.
Fire Highlights EV Shipping Risks
Overall, this fire highlights the growing risks of shipping electric vehicles with lithium batteries. While the situation remains under observation, authorities will continue investigating to prevent such events in the future.