Fire on Electric Vehicle Cargo Ship Raises Safety Concerns
A cargo ship carrying electric vehicles caught fire off the coast of Alaska, with authorities allowing the flames to burn due to the volatile nature of lithium-ion batteries. The incident unfolded more than 24 hours after the initial outbreak, as reported by both the U.S. Coast Guard and the vessel's management. All crew members were safely evacuated before the fire could escalate further. The Morning Midas, managed by Zodiac Maritime, was en route from China to Mexico when trouble began. This event has sparked discussions about the risks associated with transporting such energy-dense batteries across vast oceans.
On Tuesday afternoon, a deck loaded with electric vehicles aboard the Morning Midas started emitting smoke approximately 1,200 miles away from Anchorage. Unable to control the situation, the crew promptly sent out a distress signal just 15 minutes later. According to a statement released by Zodiac Maritime, all 22 crew members abandoned the ship using lifeboats and were subsequently rescued by a nearby commercial vessel. Given the potential for catastrophic explosions caused by overheating lithium-ion batteries, the U.S. Coast Guard opted not to intervene directly but instead monitored the situation from a safe distance.
The Morning Midas had embarked on its journey from Yantai, China, stopping at Shanghai and Nansha—two significant hubs for Chinese electric vehicle exports—before crossing the Pacific Ocean. It was transporting a total of 3,000 cars, including 800 electric vehicles destined for Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico. This highlights the growing importance of Chinese-made electric vehicles in Latin American markets, where they account for over 60% of sales in recent years. However, incidents like this one underscore the challenges posed by battery fires at sea, where saltwater corrosion can exacerbate the problem.
This is not the first time a car carrier has faced perilous conditions due to onboard fires. In 2022, the Felicity Ace sank in the Atlantic Ocean after an uncontrollable blaze raged for nearly two weeks, taking down around 4,000 luxury vehicles with it. Meanwhile, concerns about lithium-ion battery safety have also affected air travel, prompting stricter regulations among carriers globally. For instance, Southwest Airlines and several Asian airlines have recently tightened restrictions regarding the transport and use of these batteries following a destructive fire at a South Korean airport earlier this year.
Petty Officer First Class Shannon Kearney of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 17th District emphasized that while electric vehicles might be linked to the fire, definitive conclusions cannot yet be drawn. An investigation will delve deeper into the root cause of the incident. As global reliance on lithium-ion batteries grows, so does the need for enhanced safety measures during transportation, particularly in marine environments where unique hazards exist.