A car carrier transporting approximately 3,000 vehicles from China to Mexico caught fire in the Atlantic Ocean, prompting the crew to abandon ship after flames erupted in the section containing electric vehicles, according to shipowner Zodiac Maritime.
The incident occurred on June 3, eight days into the vessel’s 19-day voyage, when smoke was observed shortly after midnight UTC. Zodiac Maritime, based in the UK, confirmed the blaze originated in the area of the Morning Midas containing electric vehicles. Of the 3,000 vehicles aboard, roughly 800 were electric.
“The crew immediately initiated emergency firefighting procedures using the vessel’s onboard fire-suppression systems,” Zodiac Maritime stated, according to Lloyd’s List. “However, despite their efforts, the situation could not be brought under control.”
After notifying the U.S. Coast Guard, the 22-member crew evacuated the vessel via lifeboat and were safely rescued by a nearby merchant ship. As of June 5, the abandoned ship was still burning as it awaited the arrival of salvage tugs.
This is not the first maritime incident involving electric vehicles. In 2022, the Felicity Ace, a cargo ship carrying 4,000 cars—including high-end brands like Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini—caught fire and ultimately sank in the Atlantic Ocean. All crew members were rescued, but Volkswagen Group reported insurance losses around $155 million. Lamborghini even restarted production of its discontinued Aventador model to fulfill a customer replacement.
The growing number of EVs in global supply chains has prompted concern among shipping operators. Some companies, such as Norway-based Havila Kystruten, have banned EV transport altogether, citing fire risks. Nonetheless, maritime transport remains the most practical method for international vehicle shipments—including electric models, which are expected to dominate future production.
No injuries were reported in the Morning Midas incident.
