USA – Fire on EV-Laden Car Carrier Off Alaska Highlights Growing Maritime Risk

A fire aboard the Liberia-flagged car carrier Morning Midas continues to burn off the coast of Alaska, spotlighting rising concerns over the safety of transporting electric vehicles (EVs) at sea. The vessel caught fire on June 3 while en route from Yantai, China, to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. It was approximately 218 miles south of Amatignak Island—within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone—when smoke was first reported rising from a deck loaded with EVs.

Despite immediate onboard emergency responses, including activation of the ship’s fire suppression systems, the fire’s intensity quickly overwhelmed efforts to contain it. All 22 crew members were forced to abandon ship and were successfully evacuated via lifeboats. They were rescued without injury by the nearby merchant vessel Cosco Hellas, with support from U.S. Coast Guard air and sea units.

As of the latest Coast Guard overflight on Sunday, the Morning Midas remains ablaze but stable, with no signs of pollution detected in surrounding waters. The first of three salvage tugs arrived on scene, as part of a broader recovery effort coordinated by vessel manager Zodiac Maritime and led by Resolve Marine. The U.S. Coast Guard is closely collaborating with both parties to support safe and effective salvage operations.

The 600-foot Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), built in 2006, was carrying 3,159 vehicles at the time of the incident—including 65 fully electric vehicles and 681 partial hybrid electric vehicles. It also held approximately 350 metric tons of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil, further complicating firefighting and salvage efforts. Weather conditions on Sunday included 10–15 knot winds and 3–5 foot seas, though forecasts warn of worsening conditions in the coming days.

The blaze underscores a growing maritime risk linked to the global surge in EV transport. Fires involving lithium-ion batteries can generate extreme heat and present a high risk of reignition—making them especially difficult to control at sea. The shipping industry has seen a marked increase in such incidents.

As salvage crews mobilize and the vessel continues to burn, the Morning Midas fire adds to mounting calls for stricter safety protocols and firefighting capabilities on vessels carrying electric and hybrid vehicles.

Photo credit: Shipping in Box. All rights reserved.