Fire Breaks Out In Engine Room Aboard Car Carrier Off Costa Rica

All 22 crew members aboard the car carrier Min Jiang Kou were rescued after an engine room fire forced them to abandon the vessel about 630 miles (1,000 km) south of Costa Rica, the U.S. Coast Guard said.

The Marshall Islands-flagged pure car and truck carrier reported the fire on Thursday, Aug. 6. The crew first used the ship’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system, which appeared to contain the fire.

The U.S. Coast Guard Southwest District received an Inmarsat distress alert from the vessel at 1:09 p.m. local time.

Coast Guard watchstanders then contacted the ship’s manager and used the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) to alert nearby vessels and ask for help.

The situation worsened later that night when the crew reported increasing smoke at about 11:33 p.m.

The captain ordered the 22 crew members to leave the ship in the vessel’s lifeboats but stayed aboard to monitor the situation.

Two merchant vessels responded to the Coast Guard’s request for assistance. The cargo ship Jin Hai Ping recovered all 22 crew members from the lifeboats, while the tanker Degu stayed at the scene to help.

By 12:21 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7, all 22 mariners were safely aboard Jin Hai Ping. The vessel was then to transport them to Akita, Japan.

The Min Jiang Kou was on a Pacific crossing from Tianjin and was heading southeast toward Manta, Ecuador, when the fire occurred.

The Coast Guard said there were no reported environmental impacts from the incident.

The vessel is now coordinating with salvage company Resolve Marine for further repairs and recovery.

“The willingness of fellow mariners to answer a distress call reminds us of the extraordinary commitment the maritime community shares to protecting life at sea,” said Capt. Jessica Davila, Southwest District chief of incident management.

“This rescue highlights the strength of international partnerships, and the vital role coordination plays in ensuring mariners in distress receive timely assistance,” she said.

The rescue ended with all 22 crew members safely recovered, while arrangements continue for the Min Jiang Kou’s recovery and repairs.

References: bairdmaritime, crewmirror