Morning Midas Sinks: Cargo Ship with 3,000 Cars Disappears in the Pacific

Morning Midas Sinking Confirmed

Over 3,000 Vehicles Lost

Coast Guard Monitoring for Pollution

According to USATODAY, a massive cargo ship loaded with thousands of vehicles sank this week in international waters, triggering an environmental alert in the northern Pacific.

The vessel, identified as Morning Midas, was transporting 3,048 vehicles—including 70 electric and 681 hybrid cars—from China to the port of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico.

The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the sinking occurred on Monday, June 23, around 5:30 p.m., approximately 725 kilometers southwest of Adak, in the state of Alaska.

Operated by London-based company Zodiac Maritime, the ship was also carrying 1,530 metric tons of low-sulfur fuel oil and 350 tons of marine gas oil.

Fire Onboard Complicated the Situation

#UPDATE 5 USCG concluded response to a fire onboard the Morning Midas which sank ~450 mi SW of Adak Monday. No injuries or visible signs of pollution. 2 vessels on scene monitoring area with pollution response equipment with another en route.

Read more: https://t.co/Nee90erdyk https://t.co/SSSb1nwVii

— USCGAlaska (@USCGAlaska) June 25, 2025

The maritime disaster resulted from a series of incidents that began weeks earlier.

It all started on June 3, when a fire broke out aboard the Morning Midas.

Despite efforts to contain it, the fire could not be controlled and led to the immediate evacuation of the 22 crew members, who were safely rescued by the Coast Guard in coordination with a merchant vessel.

According to Zodiac Maritime, the fire and subsequent structural deterioration were worsened by adverse weather conditions, which allowed water to breach the hull.

Coast Guard Monitors the Sinking of Morning Midas

Morning Midas Sinks PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

The company explained in a statement sent to USA TODAY that these factors ultimately led to the sinking of the 600-foot-long vessel.

Despite the severity of the incident, authorities have stated that no visible signs of pollution have been detected so far.

Nevertheless, monitoring and containment efforts are underway.

Two specialized vessels, Garth Foss and Salvage Worker, are currently in the area conducting environmental assessments and are equipped with materials to respond to any potential spills.

Concerns Over Submerged Batteries

Morning Midas Sinks PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK

They will be joined by the vessel Endeavour, specialized in oil spill response, which is set to arrive in the area on June 26 with containment and recovery equipment.

The Coast Guard remains in close coordination with Resolve Marine, the salvage company, and with Zodiac Maritime to monitor the site.

“We remain in close coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and deeply appreciate their swift response and professionalism,” stated Zodiac Maritime.

The company now faces not only multimillion-dollar losses due to the cargo and the ship, but also scrutiny from authorities over the environmental risk posed by the shipwreck.

Morning Midas Recalls a Similar Case

Experts have expressed concern about the ship’s cargo, particularly the lithium batteries in the electric vehicles.

Although the batteries remain submerged, there is fear that over time they could release toxic substances.

This incident brings back memories of the Felicity Ace case—another car carrier that caught fire and sank in 2022 in the Atlantic, also carrying thousands of luxury vehicles.

Incidents like these highlight the risks of maritime car transport—especially electric vehicles, due to the flammability of their batteries and the difficulty of containing onboard fires.