Cargo Ship Morning Midas Goes Down Off Alaska After Weeks-Long Fire Battle
Cargo Ship Sinks Weeks After Onboard Fire Forces Crew Abandonment
The Morning Midas, a cargo ship transporting approximately 3,000 new vehicles to Mexico, has tragically sunk in the North Pacific Ocean. The vessel went down on Monday, July 1st, 2025, in international waters off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands chain, weeks after its crew was forced to abandon ship due to an uncontrollable onboard fire. London-based Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s management company, confirmed the sinking, stating there was “no visible pollution” immediately after the event. The U.S. Coast Guard had previously reported that the vessel carried a significant amount of fuel, including 350 metric tons of marine gas oil and 1,530 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil.
Fire Damage and Harsh Weather Led to Vessel’s Demise
The sinking of the Morning Midas, which occurred in waters approximately 16,400 feet deep and about 415 miles from land, was a result of compounded fire damage, adverse weather conditions, and water seepage. The blaze, which began on June 3rd, 2025, about 300 miles southwest of Adak Island, rendered the car and truck carrier disabled. A large plume of smoke was initially observed coming from the stern, specifically from a deck loaded with electric vehicles. Among the 3,000 vehicles on board were approximately 70 fully electric and 680 hybrid cars, though it remains unclear if any vehicles were removed before the sinking.
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Pollution Monitoring Underway After Ship’s Descent
Following the sinking, Zodiac Maritime stated that two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control gear will remain on site to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris. The crew members of these tugs were unharmed during the Morning Midas’s final descent. Additionally, Zodiac Maritime is deploying another specialized pollution response vessel as a precautionary measure. Captain Christopher Culpepper of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Western Alaska emphasized that responder safety remains a top priority and confirmed close collaboration with Zodiac Maritime to ensure an effective response to any potential pollution.
Crew Rescued Safely, Incident Echoes Past Concerns
All 22 crew members of the Morning Midas were safely evacuated to a lifeboat and rescued by a nearby merchant marine vessel shortly after the fire erupted on June 3rd, with no injuries reported. The 600-foot vessel, built in 2006 and sailing under a Liberian flag, had departed Yantai, China, on May 26th, en route to Mexico. This incident brings to mind a recent report by a Dutch safety board, which called for improved emergency responses on North Sea shipping routes after a deadly 2023 fire on a freighter carrying 3,000 automobiles, including nearly 500 electric vehicles, resulting in one fatality and injuries.
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