Anchorage, Alaska (AP) – The crew of a freighter carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 800 electric vehicles, to Mexico has been abandoned after losing control of a fire on board near the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.
Large plumes of smoke were first spotted at the rear of the vessel loaded with electric vehicles on Tuesday, according to a photo shared by the US Coast Guard and a statement from London-based Zodiac Maritime.
No injuries were reported among the 22 crew members aboard the Morning Midas.
The crew abandoned the ship, took refuge in a lifeboat, and was rescued by the crew of a nearby merchant vessel, the Cosco Helas, in the North Pacific. Adak is approximately 1,200 miles (1,930 kilometers) west of Anchorage, the largest city in the state.
The crew initiated emergency fire procedures using the ship’s onboard fire system, but they were unable to extinguish the flames.
“The relevant authorities have been informed, and responders are being deployed to work closely with emergency services to facilitate salvage and firefighting operations,” Zodiac Maritime stated. “Our top priority is to ensure the safety of our crew and safeguard the marine environment.”
The U.S. Coast Guard reported that it dispatched its air traffic control unit to Adak and the ship’s location. As of Wednesday afternoon, the fire’s condition remained unclear, but smoke was still billowing from the vessel, according to the Coast Guard.
Vice-General Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard District 17, mentioned in a statement that as the search and rescue efforts concluded, the Coast Guard is collaborating with Zodiac Maritime to determine the ship’s recovery process and future actions.
“We appreciate the heroic efforts of the crews of the nearby ships and the Cosco Helas, who aided in saving the lives of 22 individuals,” Dean added.
The 600-foot (183 meters) Morning Midas, a car and truck carrier, was built in 2006 and flies the Liberian flag.
According to industry sources, the ship departed Yantai, China on May 26th marinetraffic.com, destined for Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico’s major Pacific port.
Earlier this month, the Dutch Safety Committee called for enhanced emergency response following a fatal 2023 fire on a cargo ship that transported 3,000 cars from Germany to Singapore, including roughly 500 electric vehicles.
The fire resulted in one death, another injury, and burned for over a week before the ship was ultimately towed to a port in Northern Netherlands for rescue.
This incident has amplified concerns regarding safety in open seas, particularly as the size of cargo vessels has significantly increased over recent decades. Currently, more than 80% of international trade is conducted via sea travel, with the largest ships exceeding three football fields in length.
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Bauman reported from Bellingham, Washington.
Source: apnews.com