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Tag: Alaska

Morning Midas

Morning Midas

Morning Midas
Photo: USCG

Around midnight on June 3, the 183 meter long, 12250 dwt car carrier Morning Midas (IMO: 9289910) caught fire in the North Pacific Ocean some 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska. The Morning Midas departed from Yantai, China with over 3100 vehicles with 65 electric and over 600 hybrid vehicles bound for Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. While en route the crew detected smoke from one of the vehicle decks. The crew attempted to contain the blaze by using the vessel’s onboard fire suppression system.  Unfortunately, the system was unable to stop the blaze which continued to spread to other decks on the vessel.

By the afternoon of June 3, the fire was out of control and the crew alerted the United States Coast Guard. The Coast Guard sent out a broadcast alerting vessels in the area to assist while multiple Coast Guard aircraft were deployed from bases in Adak and Kodiak. The 22 crew on board the Morning Midas safely evacuated into the vessel’s life raft and were rescued by the 355.5 meter long containership Cosco Hellas (IMO: 9308510) which had responded to the distress call.  There were no injuries reported.

Morning Midas
Photo: USCG

The Coast Guard has stated they are monitoring the car carrier as smoke could still be seen billowing out from its decks. The vessels owners have arranged for a tug with firefighting equipment be sent in the hope the fire can be extinguished and the Morning Midas can be taken under tow. News reports state the fire may have started by possibly one of the lithium-ion batteries used by electric cars. If a lithium-ion battery fire is not detected early, there is a high risk of a runaway thermal reaction.

The Coast Guard is also monitoring the situation for possible oil pollution if the Morning Midas sinks before the fire is extinguished. Reports state there is 350 tons of diesel and 1530 tons of fuel oil on board the car carrier.

 

 

Canis Majoris

Canis Majoris

Hubbard

On the evening of February 20, the 43 foot long fishing vessel Canis Majoris went missing in the Nichols Passage near Thorne Bay, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska. The Coast Guard was alerted by the fishing vessel’s EPIRB and launched a search and rescue operation. The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter from Sitka along with a fast response boat from Ketchikan and the 46 meter long cutter John McCormick to search the area. The 86 meter long, 6096 dwt ro-ro passenger ferry Hubbard (IMO:9812808) was headed for Juneau was nearby and joined in the search.  The Hubbard found a life raft and floating debris but no survivors. The Coast Guard continued the search for another 25 hours before calling it off.  Authorities stated there was likely only one person onboard at the time the vessel was lost.

John McCormick

Northern Endurance

Northern Endurance

Northern Endurance
Photo: kucb.org

On January 23, the 24 meter long, 160 gt fishing vessel Northern Endurance (IMO: 9095022) ran aground in Unalaska Bay near Priest Rock, Unalaska, Alaska. The fishing vessel ended up partially beached until the following morning until salvagers were able to pull it free.  There were no reports of injuries, damage or pollution released. The Coast Guard has launched an investigation into the incident. Reports state the vessel may have gone aground due to various reasons, but the cause had not yet been disclosed.