A cargo ship carrying more than 3,000 vehicles, including around 750 electric and hybrid vehicles, continues to smoulder in the sea following a devastating fire.
The Morning Midas cargo vessel caught fire at around 3.15pm on Tuesday, June 3, 220 miles south of Adak, Alaska.
The United States Coast Guard confirmed that it was continuing its response to a fire onboard the ship, which was carrying vehicles from China to Mexico.
In total, there are believed to be 3,159 vehicles on board, with 65 being fully electric and 681 being partial hybrid electric vehicles, although these totals could still change.
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The US Coast Guard continues to monitor the status of the Morning Midas
|USCG
The Coast Guard said it had been working closely with the vessel's manager, Zodiac Maritime, to respond to the incident.
Zodiac Maritime said smoke was originally "seen rising from a deck loaded with electric vehicles" on board the UK-flagged ship, Reuters reported.
A tug vessel has arrived on the scene with salvage personnel aboard the Gretchen Dunlap, preparing to complete a full assessment of the conditions.
The USCG added that two additional vessels are scheduled to arrive on scene at different dates over the coming two weeks.
The ship is believed to be carrying more than 3,000 vehicles
|USCG
Pictures of the wreckage show a charred exterior of the boat, with scorch marks along the sides and the deck of the vessel. Smoke also continues to pour out of the ship.
Aircrew from a Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak HC-130J Super Hercules conducted a flyover of the Morning Midas and "observed no signs of pollution".
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Response and Restoration suggests that the vessel is drifting northeast at a rate of around 1.8 miles per hour.
Rear Admiral Megan Dean, commander of the Coast Guard’s Seventeenth District, said: "The safety of the public, responders, and vessel crews operating in the area remains our top priority.
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The Morning Midas is believed to have been travelling from China to Mexico
| REUTERS"We are working closely with Zodiac Maritime to ensure a safe and effective plan to address the fire and mitigate any potential impacts to the environment."
The Morning Midas is estimated to have around 350 metric tonnes of gas fuel and 1,530 metric tonnes of very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) onboard.
The Coast Guard reported that it was in close contact with the salvage company Resolve Marine to develop a comprehensive salvage and safety plan.
The Coast Guard reported that Monday saw winds of between 45 and 50 knots, with waves of six feet.
All 22 crew members were evacuated from the vessel after trying to extinguish the fire | REUTERSIt remains unclear which specific vehicle models are impacted by the fire aboard the vessel.
However, Bloomberg News reports that the ship was carrying cars from manufacturers including Chery Automobile and Great Wall Motor.
There were originally 22 crew on board the Morning Midas who attempted to put the fire out, before they were safely evacuated from the vessel by a motor vessel named Cosco Hellas.
Rear Admiral Dean thanked the crew of the Cosco Hellas and confirmed that the Coast Guard crews were working closely with Zodiac Maritime.