The cargo ship 'Morning Midas', carrying 3,000 vehicles, departed from Yantai, Shandong at the end of May and caught fire in the Pacific Ocean en route to Mexico. The shipping company managing the vessel, Zodiac Maritime, released a statement saying the Morning Midas sank on June 23rd in international waters near Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
According to an AP report citing Zodiac Maritime's statement, the Morning Midas sank about 770 kilometers from land and at a depth of around 5,000 meters due to fire damage, harsh weather, and seawater intrusion. It remains unclear whether any vehicles were removed from the vessel before it sank.
Two Ships Onsite for Pollution Monitoring
Zodiac Maritime stated that two vessels carrying pollution control equipment will remain at the site to conduct monitoring. U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson Snell also said there was no visible pollution in the waters, "We have dispatched ships to the scene to respond to any potential pollution."
The Morning Midas departed from Yantai Port for Mexico on May 26 and caught fire about 483 kilometers southwest of Adak Island, Alaska, issued a distress signal, and was abandoned. All 22 crew members boarded lifeboats and were rescued by a nearby merchant ship, with no injuries reported.
Reports indicate the Morning Midas was carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 70 pure electric vehicles and around 680 hybrid vehicles. The Wall Street Journal noted that since the freighter sank in the Pacific, investigators have almost no clues to trace the cause of the fire.