Cover image: ©Reuters
The Morning Midas car carrier, which has been adrift and burning off the coast of Alaska for over a week, continues to pose significant challenges for salvors and authorities.
The first tug, Gretchen Dunlap, reached the scene on 9 June afternoon, bringing salvage personnel to begin a comprehensive assessment of the situation.
The fire broke out on 3 June aboard the 4,902 CEU vessel, managed by Zodiac Maritime, during its journey from Mexico to Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico.
The ship, chartered to China’s SAIC Anji Logistics, was located approximately 355 kilometres south of Adak when the incident occurred.
The Morning Midas, built in 2006, was carrying 3,159 vehicles, including 65 fully electric cars and 681 hybrids. In addition, the vessel holds around 350 tonnes of gas fuel and 1,530 tonnes of very low-sulphur fuel oil.
All 22 crew members abandoned the burning vessel and were safely rescued by the containership COSCO Hellas.
According to Zodiac, two additional vessels are en route to assist, with one expected to arrive in about six days and the other in approximately 12 days. “The first will arrive in approximately six days while the second should arrive in around 12 days,” Zodiac stated.
A US Coast Guard C-130J Super Hercules aircraft conducted an overflight on 8 June, observing no signs of pollution and confirming that the vessel’s watertight integrity remains intact. However, images from the flyover indicate that the fire has caused extensive damage throughout the ship.
The US Coast Guard, Zodiac Maritime, and Resolve Marine are collaborating to develop detailed salvage and safety plans.
The vessel’s position and condition are being monitored through regular aerial surveys, and drift analysis is being carried out using data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Response and Restoration.
As of 7:00 AM local time on 9 June, the Morning Midas was reported to be drifting northeast at a speed of approximately 2.9 km/h.
