A ship carrying thousands of cars sank in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, weeks after a fire erupted on a deck storing electric vehicles, raising industry concerns about the safe transport of highly flammable EV batteries.
The 600-foot-long vessel, Morning Midas, had been drifting at sea since June 3, when the crew was forced to abandon ship due to the fire.
At the time, the ship was transporting 3,000 cars, including 800 electric vehicles, when it sank in international waters at a depth of approximately three miles, according to its owner, London-based Zodiac Maritime.
The Morning Midas had been drifting at sea since June 3, following a fire onboard.
The company stated that the vessel had been weakened by fire damage and severe weather conditions.
“As a precaution, two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control gear remain on site to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris. Their crews are safe,” Zodiac Maritime told The Post in a statement.
“A specialized pollution response vessel is also en route to the location as an additional precaution.”
The company said it is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard and Resolve Marine, a specialist in marine emergency response. Neither the Coast Guard nor Resolve Marine immediately responded to The Post’s requests for comment.
Most of the vehicles on board were manufactured in China and destined for Mexico.
The sinking has heightened concerns about the risks posed by the highly flammable lithium-ion batteries commonly used in electric vehicles.
The ship sank after being weakened by fire damage and severe weather.
Just two weeks ago, Waymo was forced to suspend its driverless EV service in downtown Los Angeles after anti-ICE protesters set fire to five of its vehicles.
Police warned residents to avoid the burning wrecks, as the batteries can emit toxic fumes, including hydrogen fluoride, when ignited.
In 2022, the 60,000-ton cargo ship Felicity Ace, carrying thousands of luxury cars, sank in the Atlantic Ocean after a fire onboard burned for nearly a week.
Experts involved in the salvage operation said the large quantity of lithium batteries likely contributed to the fire’s prolonged spread and intensity.
