Ship Carrying 3,000 Cars Abandoned in the Middle of the Pacific Ocean

A vessel transporting around 3,000 vehicles to Mexico was abandoned in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after catching fire on Tuesday, highlighting growing risks associated with transporting electric vehicles (EVs).

Smoke was first seen rising from one of the decks of the Morning Midas, which was carrying approximately 800 EVs, according to a statement by the ship’s management company, Zodiac Maritime. The crew initiated firefighting procedures, but the flames could not be brought under control, the company added.

The U.S. Coast Guard evacuated all 22 crew members, transferring them to a nearby merchant vessel. Zodiac said rescue teams are being mobilized to support firefighting and salvage operations. A spokesperson declined to comment on the ownership of the vehicles on board.

The ship departed from the Chinese port of Yantai on May 26, according to vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. Before that, it had made stops in two other Chinese ports: Nansha in the south and Shanghai.

The growing demand for lithium-ion batteries—especially in EVs—is introducing new risks to the global maritime transport industry, particularly given the high value of the vehicles on board large car carriers, according to a report released last month by insurance giant Allianz.

Although these ships carry thousands of vehicles across the world’s oceans, several major fires have raised concerns about the safety of this type of cargo. Such incidents can have serious repercussions for automakers, shipowners, and insurance companies.

Fires involving electric vehicles are often more challenging to extinguish and pose a greater risk to firefighters. The confined, steel-enclosed environment of a car carrier offers limited ventilation, which can quickly intensify heat. These conditions make fire suppression and rescue operations significantly more hazardous.

Moreover, when an EV catches fire, the blaze lasts longer and reaches higher temperatures. The flames can rapidly spread through chain reactions in a process known as thermal runaway. Fires in electric vehicles (EVs) may require up to 30,000 liters of water to cool down the lithium-ion batteries.

In 2022, a ship carrying around 4,000 vehicles caught fire in the Atlantic and ultimately sank despite efforts to tow it to safety. A year later, another ship with nearly 3,000 cars onboard caught fire off the Dutch coast.

Shipowners have been taking steps to manage the safety risks involved in EV transport. Last year, a significant safety group issued guidelines on how to handle fires aboard such vessels.

Source: O Globo

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