The cargo ship Morning Midas sank in international waters just south of the Aleutian Islands chain of Alaska. This unfortunate incident came on the heels of a week long firefight with an internal ship fire. The incident took place about 415 miles from shore, submerging to a depth of nearly 16,404 feet (5,000 meters). This raised serious concerns, as its cargo of vehicles could have caused serious environmental impacts.
The Morning Midas, registered under a Liberia flag, was built in 2006. Recently, it moved more than 3,000 finished vehicles to one of those ports, the busiest in Mexico’s largest state. The ship, which is about as long as the Empire State Building is tall at 600 feet (183 meters), departed from Yantai, China, on May 26 just to transport cars. Almost immediately, it ran into serious problems.
The fire that would finally sink the great ship raged out of control for a week. In the meantime, the Morning Midas received a death blow. It departed on a mission unable to fully quell the flames that resulted in one death of its 22 member crew and many other injuries. The ship was on its maiden voyage and had a record-sized vehicle shipment. It featured a mix of 70 electric vehicles and 680 hybrids.
Two salvage tugs equipped with pollution control equipment were dispatched to the site to monitor for any signs of debris or pollution resulting from the sinking. So far, officials have said that there haven’t been any signs of pollution in the affected area.
“There is no visible pollution” – Petty Officer Cameron Snell
The loss of the Morning Midas is a tragic loss for the crew and their families. It ignites crucial concerns over maritime safety and the environmental consequences such an incident could have. Investigations into the cause of the fire and the operational protocols followed by the vessel during its journey will likely be initiated by relevant maritime authorities.
