Cargo ship transporting thousands of cars sinks in Pacific after fire

A ship carrying 3,000 cars, including 800 electric vehicles, sank in the Pacific Ocean this week, raising concerns about the dangers of lithium-ion batteries typically used in EVs.

A ship holding thousands of cars sank in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, weeks after a fire broke out on a deck that was holding electric vehicles – stoking industry concerns around transporting highly flammable batteries.

The 182-metre-long Morning Midas had been adrift at sea since June 3, when flames broke out and the crew was forced to abandon ship.

The ship was carrying 3,000 cars, including 800 EVs, when it sank in international waters approximately three miles deep, according to the ship’s owner, London-based Zodiac Maritime.

The Morning Midas vessel had been adrift at sea since June 3, when a fire broke out. Picture: U.S. Coast Guard/Courtesy of Air Station Kodiak via AP

All 22 crew members were rescued. Picture: US Coast Guard/Courtesy of Roland Hobson/ Coast Guard/AFP

It had been weakened by fire damage and intense weather, the company said.

“As a precaution, two salvage tugs containing pollution control equipment remain on site to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris. Their crews are safe,” Zodiac Maritime told The Post in a statement.

“A specialised pollution response vessel is also en route to the location as an additional precaution.”

The company said it is working with the US Coast Guard and Resolve Marine, which specialises in marine emergency response. The Coast Guard and Resolve Marine did not immediately respond to The Post’s requests for comment.

Most of the vehicles on board the vessel were made in China and headed toward Mexico.

The sinking raises concerns about the dangers of the highly flammable lithium-ion batteries typically used in electric vehicles.

The ship had been weakened by fire damage and intense weather when it sank. Picture: US Coast Guard

Just two weeks ago, Waymo was forced to suspend service of its driverless EVs in downtown Los Angeles after anti-ICE protesters set five of its vehicles ablaze.

Police officers warned residents to steer clear of the melted metal heaps, since the batteries can release toxic fumes, like hydrogen fluoride, when set on fire.

In 2022, a 60,000-ton cargo ship called the Felicity Ace carrying thousands of luxury cars sank in the Atlantic Ocean after a fire on board burned for nearly a week.

Experts hired to salvage the ship said the large amount of lithium batteries likely caused the fire to spread and stay ablaze for longer.

This story originally appeared on New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Cargo ship transporting thousands of cars sinks in Pacific after fire