Morning Midas, the car carrier that caught fire on 3 June, sank in the Pacific Ocean in the afternoon (UK time) on 23 June, while the ship was towed.
Owner Zodiac Maritime Agencies said today (24 June) that the salvors from Resolve Marine reported that the 2006-built Morning Midas sank in the northern part of the ocean around 4.35pm UK time.
UK-based Zodiac said: “Damage caused by the fire, compounded by heavy weather and subsequent water ingress, caused the Morning Midas to sink in waters approximately 5,000 metres deep and 360 nautical miles from land.”
Morning Midas, chartered to SAIC Anji Shipping, the shipping arm of Chinese car maker SAIC Motor, was carrying 3,000 vehicles, including 800 electric vehicles, from Yantai, China, to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico, when fire broke out. All its 22 seafarers evacuated on lifeboats and were picked up by container ship COSCO Hellas.
Zodiac said: “As a precaution, two salvage tugs containing pollution control equipment remain on site to monitor for any signs of pollution or debris. Their crews are safe. A specialised pollution response vessel is also en-route to the location as an additional precaution.
“All operations continue to prioritise the safety of personnel and the protection of the marine environment.”
