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. "