Adak, Alaska — A massive cargo ship, the Morning Midas, sank in international waters southwest of Alaska on Monday, June 23, after battling a fire earlier this month, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
The 600-foot, Liberian-flagged vessel, operated by London-based Zodiac Maritime, went down around 5:30 p.m., approximately 450 miles southwest of Adak, while en route from China to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. The ship was carrying an estimated 3,048 vehicles, including 70 electric and 681 hybrid models.
The Morning Midas had already experienced a serious fire on June 3, prompting all 22 crew members to abandon the vessel. The fire proved uncontrollable, forcing the crew to evacuate via lifeboat, assisted by the U.S. Coast Guard and a nearby merchant ship. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Zodiac Maritime said on Tuesday that fire damage, compounded by heavy weather and water ingress, ultimately caused the vessel to sink. In addition to vehicles, the ship was transporting 1,530 metric tons of very low-sulfur fuel oil and 350 tons of marine gas oil — raising concerns about possible environmental impact.
As of Wednesday, the Coast Guard reported no visible signs of pollution in the area. However, proactive response efforts are underway. Two salvage vessels, Garth Foss and Salvage Worker, are on site conducting continuous environmental assessments using onboard pollution response equipment.
The Endeavour, an oil spill response vessel, is also en route to the site with containment booms and recovery resources, scheduled to arrive on June 26.
“We remain in close coordination with Resolve Marine and the United States Coast Guard, and we extend our sincere thanks for their professionalism, swift response, and continued collaboration,” said Zodiac Maritime in a statement.
Officials emphasized that monitoring will continue as a precaution to address any potential fuel leaks or environmental hazards. The exact environmental impact may not be known for several days.
The incident raises further concerns about maritime safety, particularly for vessels transporting electric and hybrid vehicles, which can complicate firefighting and recovery efforts due to battery-related fire risks.
The U.S. Coast Guard and Zodiac Maritime say further investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage and potential long-term environmental consequences.
