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Fire on Chinese Car Carrier in the Pacific Ocean Damages Over 3,000 Vehicles, Including EVs and Hybrids

5 June 2025| Number Of Visitors 3,601

A cargo ship from China carrying vehicles, including electric cars, has been abandoned in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after its 22 crew members were unable to control a fire that broke out on board.

The 46,800-ton Morning Midas departed from Yantai, China, on May 26, heading to Mexico with a total of 3,048 vehicles, including 70 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 681 hybrid cars.

According to a statement from the United States Coast Guard (USCG), smoke was detected on the ship and emergency procedures were carried out. However, the fire could not be brought under control, and the crew had to be evacuated using a lifeboat. Air and sea crews were then deployed to fight the blaze. The USCG confirmed there were no reported injuries from the fire or the evacuation.

The vessel was located approximately 483 kilometers south of Adak, off the southern coast of Alaska in the North Pacific Ocean. Zodiac Maritime, the ship’s London-based operator, is working with the USCG to recover the vessel.

While internal combustion engine vehicles can catch fire, fires involving lithium-ion batteries—commonly found in BEVs and portable electronics—are significantly more difficult to extinguish due to their chemical composition, which is more susceptible to heat than other battery types. To mitigate this risk, brands such as BYD use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which offer greater chemical stability and higher heat tolerance.

The brands of the vehicles on board the Morning Midas have not been officially confirmed. According to Bloomberg, the ship departed from Yantai, home to SAIC’s manufacturing facilities—maker of MG and IM Motors, the latter soon to be launched in Australia. The ship also docked at the ports of Nansha and Shanghai. Toyota and Dongfeng operate car plants in Nansha, while SAIC, Tesla, Volkswagen, and General Motors (GM), among others, have manufacturing facilities in Shanghai.

Out-of-control fires on cargo ships transporting electric vehicles have made headlines in the past, the most notable case being the Felicity Ace, which was carrying vehicles from the Volkswagen Group. In February 2022, a major fire broke out on the vessel, forcing the crew to evacuate. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the ship ultimately sank while still ablaze—along with 3,823 Porsche, Bentley, and Audi vehicles—off the coast of Portugal.