Smoke rose from the Morning Midas, laden with 3,000 vehicles, 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska, on June 3, 2025, as its crew abandoned ship due to an uncontrollable fire. Photo Credit: Air Station Kodiak via AP
Car Carrier “Morning Midas” Catches Fire Off Alaska, All Crew Safely Rescued
On June 3, the Liberian-flagged car carrier Morning Midas, measuring approximately 600 feet in length, caught fire while sailing roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska. The vessel was transporting about 3,048 vehicles, including an estimated 70 fully electric and 681 hybrid cars.
The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call around 3:15 p.m. local time. Initial reports indicate that the crew attempted to suppress the fire using the ship’s onboard CO₂ system. However, after the system was exhausted, the fire reportedly reignited, particularly on the deck where electric vehicles were stored. Due to the intensity of the blaze, the crew abandoned ship using lifeboats and were safely rescued by the nearby merchant vessel Cosco Hellas. No injuries were reported among the 22 crew members.
Following the successful rescue, the Coast Guard deployed aircraft and a cutter to monitor the burning vessel. Firefighting tugs and salvage teams are en route to the scene. The Garth Foss, a specialized firefighting tug, has replaced the initial response vessel, Gretchen Dunlap. The salvage operation is being coordinated in partnership with Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s UK-based management company.
This incident has raised concerns due to the presence of electric vehicles onboard, as lithium-ion battery fires are notably difficult to extinguish. Experts caution that traditional suppression systems are often ineffective against EV fires, which may require large volumes of water and pose further risks, including environmental contamination.
The Morning Midas fire follows other recent maritime incidents involving EV cargo, such as the Felicity Ace in 2022 and a North Sea freighter fire in 2023. These events have prompted increased scrutiny of maritime safety protocols when transporting electric and hybrid vehicles.
As of now, authorities continue to monitor the vessel’s condition while planning safe firefighting and towing procedures. The primary goals remain to extinguish the fire, prevent environmental harm, and secure the ship for transport to port.
