Smoke on the Water: Persistent Maritime Vehicle Carrier Fires
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Writer: Daniel Huefner
A spectacle on the sea: A colossal freighter drifts aimlessly, blanketed by a thick cloud of smoke streaming from the vehicle deck's rear. This unfortunate incident involves the "Morning Midas," a ship en route to Mexico, struck by a fire on Tuesday allegedly involving around 3000 vehicles from various Chinese brands, including electric models. The initial spark and specific vehicle manufacturer are yet to be identified. Thankfully, the 22-member crew has been safely evacuated, with no reported injuries.
Fire Safety Expert: Outdated Firefighting Systems Remain a Problem
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils linked to marine vehicle transportation. In recent years, we have witnessed a concerning surge in severe fires aboard car carrier ships, particularly with the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and their large batteries that are contestable or not at all extinguishable at sea. Uwe-Peter Schieder, a fire safety expert from the German Insurance Association, expressed this concern two years ago, criticizing the persistence of outdated fire protection on numerous vessels. The current fire detection and firefighting systems on and below deck demand a comprehensive overhaul to effectively combat most fires. Inadequate fire safety measures can only lead to uncontrollable blazes. Not only do such fires pose a threat to crew members, but they also present significant financial risks for automakers, shipping companies, and insurers. Should a ship or vehicles suffer damage, the cost can quickly escalate into the hundreds of millions. Here's a rundown of some major fires aboard car transporters in recent times:
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Further Images from this Gallery:
- Maritime Transport
- Electric Vehicle
- Insurance
A footnote on advancements: Recent updates to SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the FSS Code, set to take effect in January 2026, mandate the installation of fixed water monitors on weather decks to address these vulnerabilities. These monitors offer swift, precise, and high-performance firefighting capabilities, aiming to prevent fire escalation in large, open vehicle decks—a necessity highlighted by recent high-profile EV fire incidents on car carriers. Without these upgrades, older systems prove inadequate, leaving ships vulnerable to rapid and uncontrollable fire spread, placing maritime transport of electric vehicles at greater safety risk.
References:
- www.tc.gc.ca
- www.ims-assessments.ch
- www.safety-at-sea.org
- www.maritimetimes.com
- www.fire-tutor.info
- The fire incident on the "Morning Midas" highlights the financial risks associated with the transport industry, not only for car manufacturers but also for shipping companies and insurers, as the cost of damage can reach hundreds of millions.
- Uwe-Peter Schieder, a fire safety expert from the German Insurance Association, has criticized the persistence of outdated fire protection systems on numerous vessels and stressed the need for a comprehensive overhaul of current fire detection and firefighting systems to effectively combat fires in the transportation services sector, particularly with the rise of electric vehicles.
- The upcoming changes to SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the FSS Code, effective in January 2026, require the installation of fixed water monitors on weather decks to address the vulnerabilities of maritime transport—a move designed to prevent fire escalation in large, open vehicle decks in relation to electric-vehicle transport, thus improving the overall safety of transport services and lifestyle, including the use of cars within the industry.
