A massive fire on the cargo ship “Morning Midas”, which transports around 3000 vehicles – including around 800 electric cars – is currently causing a dangerous incident in the Pacific. As the American Coast Guard announced on Wednesday, the fire was broken on a deck with electric vehicles more than 24 hours earlier, while the ship was about 483 kilometers southwest of the island of Adak (Alaska).
According to the ship operator Zodiac Maritime from London, smoke started on Tuesday from a deck with electric cars. The approximately 183 meter -long cargo ship was around 1900 kilometers from Anchorage at the time. The 22-person crew could not contain the fire and sent an emergency call within 15 minutes. All crew members then manage with a lifeboat and were absorbed by a nearby merchant ship.
Difficult, take care of gases
Due to the electric cars on board with lithium ion batteries, the American coast guard currently burned fire in a controlled way from a safe distance. The reason: the batteries are considered extremely fire related and can explode when contacted with water or heat.
The fire could spread further through toxic gases and difficult to control flames. It is still unclear whether the electric cars were actually the trigger of the fire. According to experts, the investigations into the cause of the fire can take weeks to months.
FRIJNER came from China
The Morning Midas started from Yantai (China) on 26 May and also started on its way in Shanghai and Nansha – both well -known export hubs for Chinese electric cars. The goal was the Mexican port of Lázaro Cárdenas, where the ship would arrive on 15 June. Electric vehicles from China dominate the Latin American market: according to the International Energy Agency, more than 60 percent of all 2023/24 e-cars were sold from China in Mexico.
Parallel with earlier ship fires
The case is reminiscent of the downfall of the “Felicity Ace” in 2022. At that time, the cargo ship dropped in the Atlantic Ocean with around 4,000 vehicles after a week long – including many luxury cars. Experts suspected that the lithium ion batteries on board tightened the fire. A connection with E-cars on board was also checked for a fire on a Japanese car transporter in the previous year, in which a crew member died.
Insurance experts raise the alarm
Insurers such as the American Alliance Insurance have long warned the risks of sending electric cars. “A modern car transport ship can transport a maximum of 10,000 electric vehicles, so that a fire creates a huge risk for the environment, the crew and the ship,” says Rahul Khanna, head of the ship risk department at Allianz.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
