Fire disaster on the high seas: 3,000 electric cars in flames!

Fire disaster on the high seas: 3,000 electric cars in flames!

Pazifik, Mexiko - On June 3, 2025, the Zodiac Maritime shipping company was informed about an emergency on board the "Morning Midas" car freighter. The ship, which is on the way from China to Mexico, reported strong smoke on a deck on which there are around 800 electric cars. Despite the attempts to control the fire with on -board extinguishing systems, these could not be successfully activated. As a result, the 22-member crew evacuated the burning ship with rescue boats and brought itself to safety. The "Morning Midas" now drives without a lead and flames in the Pacific, while the cause of the fire is still unclear. This incident is reminiscent of the catastrophe of the "Felicity Ace", which dropped in the Atlantic in February 2022 after a fire broke out on board and lost around 4,000 vehicles, including many electric cars.

Experts have been warning of the dangers from electric vehicles on ships for some time. In particular, the lithium-ion batteries that are installed in these vehicles are a considerable risk. According to the entire Association of the German Insurance Industry (GDV), more incidents have happened in recent years in which fires were sparked by lithium-ion batteries. Jörg Asmussen, General Manager of the GDV, therefore urgently demands modernization of the extinguishing systems on car freighers.

risks from lithium-ion batteries

A comprehensive analysis of the security situation on board shows that fires of lithium-ion batteries on ships are not only dangerous, but also difficult to combat. During a fire, they produce hydrogen, oxygen and toxic gases that overwhelm conventional extinguishing systems. Uwe-Peter Schieder, an expert for sea shipping security, has emphasized that conventional CO2 extinguishing systems fail because the lithium-ion batteries themselves generate oxygen, which continues to fuel the fire. Therefore, many shipping companies, such as the Norwegian Havila Kystruten, have tried to avoid the transport of electric vehicles.

The security standards for lithium-ion batteries are strict, and progress in material research has improved their resistance, but the risk remains that the batteries are ignited themselves if the external damage is damaged. Mechanical damage, overload or even defects in electronics can trigger such fires. If a battery burns, it is a chain reaction that can reach extremely high temperatures of over 900 degrees Celsius. The complete burning of such a battery can take up to an hour and requires special deletion methods because conventional extinguishing foam is ineffective.

necessary changes in sea shipping

The problem of transporting electric cars on ships is an urgent topic in today's maritime logistics. With increasing the number of electric vehicles, the need for increased safety standards and modernized extinguishing systems is also strict. Experts and shipping companies agree: it is essential that suitable measures and technologies are developed and implemented as soon as possible.