COSCO Car Carrier Min Jiang Kou Ablaze in Eastern Pacific, 22 Crew Rescued

The Chinese car carrier Min Jiang Kou suffered an engine room fire approximately 600 nautical miles southeast of Costa Rica's Pacific coast on August 7, prompting the crew to abandon ship. All 22 crew members were rescued by good Samaritan vessels.

The master activated the CO2 flooding system in an attempt to extinguish the fire, but smoke increased overnight and the order to abandon ship was given. The master remained aboard to monitor the situation. Bulker Jin Hai Ping and tanker Degu responded to a U.S. Coast Guard AMVER request and arrived on scene, with Jin Hai Ping recovering all 22 crew from lifeboats by midday Friday. The rescued crew will be delivered to shore upon Jin Hai Ping's arrival at Akita, Japan.

Min Jiang Kou was on a Pacific crossing from Tianjin, bound for Manta, Ecuador at the time. American salvor Resolve Marine is coordinating next steps for the vessel's recovery.