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A cargo ship carrying over 3,000 vehicles, including hundreds of electric and hybrid cars, has sunk deep in the North Pacific, sparking serious concerns about battery contamination and a potential marine pollution disaster.
The Morning Midas, a 600-foot vessel operated by London-based Zodiac Maritime, sank on Monday, June 23, after burning for weeks and taking on water. It went down about 450 miles southwest of Adak, Alaska, in international waters.
Inside were 70 electric vehicles, 681 hybrids, and over 1,500 metric tons of fuel, including low-sulfur oil and marine gas. Experts are warning that lithium-ion batteries from the EVs could pose a long-term hazard to marine ecosystems, while oil from the ship’s tanks threatens nearby waters if containment fails.
Zodiac Maritime has confirmed the sinking but has not said who will pay for any cleanup or how much it could cost. The company has praised the U.S. Coast Guard’s response and says it’s working with salvage teams to monitor the area.
But environmental groups are raising the alarm. “This isn’t just a shipwreck; this is a toxic cocktail of fuel and battery chemicals heading into the ocean,” said one marine conservation advocate. “The public deserves to know who’s cleaning it up and who’s footing the bill.”
The trouble started back on June 3, when a fire broke out on the electric vehicle deck. Despite efforts to control it, the 22-member crew abandoned ship and were safely rescued by a nearby vessel with assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
The fire smoldered for weeks. Combined with rough seas and water seeping into the hull, it eventually led to the ship’s sinking.
So far, the U.S. Coast Guard says there are no visible oil leaks, but cleanup teams remain on standby. Two salvage ships, Garth Foss and Salvage Worker, are on site, equipped with pollution response gear. A third ship, Endeavour, arrived Wednesday with oil containment and recovery tools.
Authorities say they’re conducting constant assessments, but given the remote location and depth, cleanup will be complicated if oil or battery materials begin leaking.
*With information from USA Today
