EVs turn ships into death traps: Lithium-ion fires ravage another vessel in Pacific disaster

• The Morning Midas cargo ship, carrying 3,000 vehicles including 800 EVs, was abandoned in the Pacific after lithium-ion battery fires overwhelmed suppression systems.
• This echoes the 2022 Felicity Ace disaster, where 4,000 EVs burned and sank, costing insurers $400 million.
• Lithium-ion fires are nearly impossible to extinguish at sea, and they often reignite despite massive water use.
• EV battery fires release toxic gases, posing greater environmental risks than fossil fuels in maritime disasters.
• Governments and corporations ignore EV battery dangers while pushing aggressive climate policies, risking more disasters.

Another cargo ship has become a floating inferno, abandoned in the Pacific Ocean after a fire sparked by lithium-ion batteries overwhelmed onboard suppression systems. The Morning Midas, carrying over 3,000 vehicles, including approximately 800 electric and hybrid models, was en route from China to Mexico when flames erupted 300 miles southwest of Alaska’s Adak Island. All 22 crew members were safely evacuated, but the vessel now drifts as a smoldering testament to the dangers of transporting electric vehicles (EVs) by sea.

This disaster echoes the 2022 Felicity Ace catastrophe, where a ship laden with 4,000 luxury EVs burned and sank in the Atlantic, costing insurers over $400 million. Yet despite these repeated warnings, the maritime industry and the governments pushing EV mandates continue to ignore the explosive risks of lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion fires: A maritime nightmare

According to The Washington Post, “Lithium-ion battery fires are notoriously hard to extinguish. They often require immense volumes of water and can reignite even after appearing extinguished.” The Morning Midas fire followed this exact pattern, with suppression systems failing as flames spread uncontrollably across the vehicle deck.

The ship’s operator, Zodiac Maritime, confirmed the fire could not be contained despite crew efforts. Nearby commercial vessels and the U.S. Coast Guard responded, but the blaze continued to burn, fueled by the volatile chemistry of EV batteries.

These incidents aren’t isolated. In 2023, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued an alert warning of the dangers posed by EVs on ferries, particularly lithium-ion fires that can spontaneously ignite. Saltwater exposure, which is common in maritime environments, further destabilizes these batteries, increasing the risk of thermal runaway, a process where overheating cells trigger uncontrollable fires.

Environmental hazards worse than fossil fuels

While climate activists push EVs as “green” alternatives, the Morning Midas disaster exposes the hypocrisy of this narrative. Lithium-ion fires release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride and phosphorus pentafluoride, which contaminate air and water. The ship carried 1,500 metric tons of low-sulfur fuel oil, raising concerns of an oil spill, but the greater threat may be the burning EV batteries themselves.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted similar risks during Hurricane Helene and Milton, reporting that floodwaters submerged EV batteries, sparking at least 16 fires in the Tampa Bay area alone. “

Policy arrogance meets harsh reality

The Morning Midas fire is a direct consequence of climate policies that prioritize ideology over safety. Governments and corporations, eager to virtue-signal their commitment to “net zero,” have ignored repeated warnings about EV battery risks. Meanwhile, the maritime industry, already burdened by emissions regulations, now faces the added peril of transporting floating lithium bomb fleets.

The Coast Guard is coordinating salvage efforts, but the Morning Midas may join the Felicity Ace at the bottom of the ocean. Meanwhile, insurers and shipping companies are left to grapple with the financial fallout, while policymakers refuse to acknowledge their role in creating this crisis.

If these vehicles are truly the future, their risks must be addressed, not buried under subsidies and propaganda. Until then, incidents like the Morning Midas will keep happening, and the only “green” in this transition will be the toxic smoke billowing from burning battery packs.

Sources for this article include:

WattsUpWithThat.com

SeattleTimes.com

SAN.com

Axios.com