Cargo Ship Sinks in the North Pacific After Onboard Fire
A cargo ship named the Morning Midas, which was transporting new vehicles to Mexico, has tragically sunk in the North Pacific Ocean. This incident occurred weeks after the crew abandoned ship due to an onboard fire that left the vessel incapacitated.
The Morning Midas went down on Monday in international waters near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, according to a statement from its management company, Zodiac Maritime, based in London. Fortunately, there has been no visible pollution reported, as confirmed by Petty Officer Cameron Snell of the U.S. Coast Guard. Vessels are on standby to monitor any potential pollution issues.
The vessel faced severe challenges, including fire damage, worsening weather conditions, and water intrusion, leading to its sinking in depths of approximately 16,404 feet and about 415 miles from shore. The ship was carrying around 3,000 new vehicles destined for a major port in Mexico. It remains unclear whether any vehicles were removed prior to the sinking.
In the wake of the fire that disabled the ship, a salvage crew was deployed. Two salvage tugs, equipped with pollution control devices, will remain at the site to keep an eye on any signs of pollution or debris. Thankfully, the crew aboard these tugboats were unharmed when the Morning Midas sank.
Zodiac Maritime is dispatching an additional specialized vessel specifically designed for pollution response as a precautionary measure.
The Coast Guard received an emergency alert about the fire on June 3, when the Morning Midas was approximately 300 miles southwest of Adak Island. The 22 crew members successfully evacuated to a lifeboat and were rescued by a nearby merchant ship, with no injuries reported.
Among the cargo were 70 fully electric and about 680 hybrid vehicles. A significant amount of smoke was initially observed coming from the deck where the electric vehicles were stored.
The Morning Midas, a 600-foot vessel built in 2006 and sailing under a Liberian flag, set off from Yantai, China, on May 26, heading for Mexico. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety and emergency preparedness in maritime operations.
