Fracht fire: 3,000 cars in danger - electric cars as a risk factor!

Fracht fire: 3,000 cars in danger - electric cars as a risk factor!
Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexiko - on the freight ship "Morning Midas", which drives under Liberian flag, broke out a devastating fire, while it transported more than 3,000 cars, including 700 to 800 electric vehicles. The 22-member crew could not contain the fire and had to evacuate the ship. In cooperation with the US Coast Guard, the crew members were brought to a nearby merchant ship with rescue boats. Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the origin of the fire, the first smoke was found on the deck level with the electric cars, is still unknown. The ship left China on May 26 and was on its way to the Mexican port city of Lázaro Cárdenas when the accident happened about 483 kilometers southwest of the Aleuten Island of Adak.
About fires on cargo ships is increasingly concerned, especially since the number of such incidents reached a ten -year high in 2024. According to the Maritime Safety Report 2025 from Allianz Commercial, the risks are significant, which alerts insurers. A similar incident occurred in 2022 when a ship with luxury cars in the Atlantic burned after almost two weeks. These events raise questions about safety when transporting electric cars.
context for electric vehicle fires
Environmental protection organizations and the world shipping organization IMO are calling for new security precautions, especially with regard to the transport of vehicles with lithium-ion batteries. As part of this discussion, representatives of the Dutch Wadden Sea islands urge them to move shipping traffic further north. The freighter "Foreign Highway" has reached a less dangerous anchorage, but the risk of an oil spill due to the approximately 1.6 million liters of heavy oil on board remains.
fire risk of electric cars
The fires on ships that transport electric cars also cause concerns in Germany. An ADAC expert explained that the risk of a fire breakout in electric cars and combustion vehicles was the same. Fires of electric vehicles can accept devastating proportions and are extremely difficult for fire departments to combat because conventional extinguishing agents are not sufficient. The German Insurance Industry (GDV) also criticizes that fire protection technology on ships does not keep up with the rapidly developing automotive technology.
The SCANDLINES shipping company, which regularly runs ferries between Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Scandinavia, subjects your staff special training to react quickly and effectively in the event of an electric vehicle battery. Their ships are mainly made of steel, which increases fire protection. In the event of a fire, the deck is evacuated to prevent the spread of the fire, and the ferries drive the closest port as soon as possible. With the current discussion about the safety of electric cars on ferries and cargo ships, the risk of fires remains an urgent topic in maritime logistics and transport industry.
These events illustrate the need for more intensive discussions and stricter security guidelines in dealing with electric cars in the maritime sector.
For more information about the topic of electric car fire on ship trips, the articles from Our Central Europe , tagesschau.de and ndr are consulted.
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Ort | Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexiko |
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