Cargo Ship Morning Midas Sinks Off Alaska Following Fire
A cargo ship transporting thousands of new vehicles to Mexico sank in the North Pacific Ocean weeks after a devastating onboard fire forced its crew to abandon ship.
All Crew Rescued Safely
The vessel, named Morning Midas, went down on Monday in international waters near Alaska's Aleutian Islands, according to its management company, Zodiac Maritime, based in London.
The ship had 22 crew members who evacuated safely to a lifeboat amid the fire and were later rescued by a nearby merchant vessel, with no injuries reported.
Fire Leads to Sinking in Deep Waters
After the fire rendered the ship dead in the water, fire damage combined with rough weather and water seepage ultimately caused it to sink. The ship went under in approximately 16,404 feet (5,000 meters) deep waters, about 415 miles (770 kilometers) from land.
A U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson confirmed there has been no visible pollution so far, adding that vessels remain on scene to respond if necessary.
Thousands of Vehicles Lost at Sea
Morning Midas was carrying roughly 3,000 new vehicles destined for a major Pacific port in Mexico. Among these were around 70 fully electric cars and 680 hybrid vehicles. A large plume of smoke was initially detected coming from the ship’s deck carrying electric vehicles.
It remains unclear if any of the cargo was salvaged before the sinking, as Zodiac Maritime has yet to provide details on vehicle recovery.
Response and Monitoring Efforts
Salvage crews arrived within days following the fire. Two tugs equipped with pollution control gear are on site, actively monitoring for pollution or floating debris. Zodiac Maritime also announced it will deploy an additional specialized pollution response vessel as a precautionary measure.
Background of the Morning Midas
Measuring 600 feet (183 meters), Morning Midas was built in 2006 and operates under the Liberian flag. It departed Yantai, China, on May 26, 2025, bound for Mexico, carrying new cars and trucks.
The fire reportedly began around June 3, roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, a remote part of Alaska’s Aleutian chain located about 1,200 miles west of Anchorage.
Concerns Over Safety of Electric Vehicle Shipments
This incident echoes previous concerns raised after a deadly 2023 freighter fire in the North Sea involving a shipment of thousands of vehicles, including hundreds of electric ones, which burned for a week and resulted in casualties. Safety authorities have since called for improved emergency responses on major shipping routes.
