Cargo ship Morning Midas sinks after fire in North Pacific

In early June 2025, a cargo ship named Morning Midas sank in the North Pacific Ocean, weeks after a fire erupted on board. The vessel was delivering approximately 3,000 new vehicles to Mexico when crew members abandoned the ship after failing to extinguish the fire. The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress alert on June 3 about a fire aboard the Morning Midas, which at that time was located roughly 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, Alaska. All 22 crew members were safely evacuated to a lifeboat and ultimately rescued by a nearby merchant marine vessel. Following the fire, a salvage crew arrived to assess the situation, but fire damage along with harsh weather conditions and water seepage resulted in the ship sinking in international waters about 415 miles from land. The ship was carrying a mix of vehicles, including approximately 70 fully electric and 680 hybrid cars, all intended for delivery to a major port in Mexico. Although it’s unclear whether any of the cars were removed before the sinking, the management company, Zodiac Maritime, assured that there was no visible pollution detected in the area following the incident. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control gear were dispatched to the site to monitor for any environmental impact or debris from the vessel. Zodiac Maritime also sent a specialized pollution response vessel to the location as a precaution. Responders expressed their commitment to ensuring safety during cleanup efforts, indicating that the priority was ensuring the well-being of the crew and the environment during their operations in the aftermath of the sinking. The Morning Midas, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship built in 2006, was noted for its capacity to transport large volumes of vehicles overseas. The series of events leading to the sinking highlighted the inherent risks involved in maritime transport, especially concerning vessels carrying a mixture of fuel types and automobiles. A comprehensive investigation will likely follow, as there are calls for increased reporting and response protocols in the shipping industry to prevent similar incidents in the future.