Zodiac Maritime has appointed Resolve Marine to carry out salvage work on its burning car carrier, Morning Midas.
In a press statement released on 5 June, the UK-based Zodiac said: “A first tug carrying a team of salvage specialists and specialised equipment has already been mobilised and is expected to arrive at the scene on approximately 9 June. There, it will assess the vessel’s condition and provide necessary support. An additional fire-fighting tug, capable of ocean towage, is also being arranged to provide further support.”
Morning Midas caught fire on 3 June, while sailing from Yantai, China, to Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. Its 22 crewmen evacuated after falling to bring the fire under control. Chinese carmaker SAIC Motor’s shipping unit SAIC Anji Logistics, is chartering the ship.
In an update today (6 June), the US Coast Guard said Morning Midas remains on fire, 340 miles southwest of Adak, Alaska.
The Coast Guard said: “There are no visual indications that the ship is taking on water or listing, and the extent of the damage is unknown.”
Zodiac continued: “Following the crew’s evacuation and until salvage tugs arrive on scene, we continue to monitor the Morning Midas via its onboard satellite-connected systems. While this allows for tracking the vessel’s location, the ability to monitor other onboard conditions is limited.”
