Anna Hartz
Burning EV Ship Could Sink Any Moment—Massive Oil Spill Feared
Electric cars have become a big part of the auto industry. But their rise has also brought new challenges, especially when transported across oceans.
One of those challenges is now unfolding in the middle of the Pacific.
For more than nine days, the cargo ship Morning Midas has been burning out of control, according to Boosted.
On board are over 800 electric and hybrid vehicles. The fire is still active, and the ship is now drifting without power or direction. The situation is serious.
Too Dangerous to Rescue
The fire broke out on June 3. Since then, the vessel has been floating like a wreck about 350 kilometers south of Adak Island in Alaska.
A rescue crew has reached the area. They are aboard the tugboat Gretchen Dunlap. But they can’t do much. All they can do is watch the fire from a safe distance.
The risk of explosions from the lithium-ion batteries makes it too dangerous to approach.
Fires from these batteries burn at extremely high temperatures and can release toxic gases.
That’s why the rescue team is staying upwind. This helps them avoid breathing in harmful smoke.
Experts say there are two possible outcomes. One is that the fire eventually burns itself out. If that happens, the ship could be towed to a port.
A Serious Environmental Concern
But the more likely outcome is that the vessel will capsize and sink. Parts of the burned interior may shift and make the ship unstable.
If Morning Midas sinks, it could cause serious pollution. There are over 300 tons of marine gas oil onboard. There is also about 1,500 tons of other oil and more than 3,000 vehicles.
The 22 crew members tried to put out the fire when it started. But they had to abandon ship. Everyone was safely rescued by the container ship Cosco Hellas.
Two more tugboats are on their way, but the nearest one is still days out. A third won’t arrive for over a week. By then, it may be too late to save the ship.
This event raises new concerns about how safe it is to transport electric cars by sea.