COSTA RICA – 22 Crew Rescued After Fire Aboard Car Carrier off Costa Rica

All 22 crew members aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged car carrier have been rescued after a fire broke out in the vessel’s engine room approximately 630 miles (1,000 kilometres) south of Costa Rica.

The incident involved the pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Min Jiang Kou on Thursday, August 6. The US Coast Guard coordinated the response after receiving a distress alert from the vessel.

Coast Guard Southwest District watchstanders were alerted at 13:09 local time through the Inmarsat system. The ship’s management subsequently confirmed that an engine room fire was underway and that the crew had activated the vessel’s CO2 fire suppression system.

The system initially succeeded in containing the blaze. However, later that evening, the situation deteriorated. At 23:33, the crew reported that smoke levels aboard the vessel had increased, prompting the captain to order an evacuation.

The crew abandoned the Min Jiang Kou in its lifeboats, while the captain remained on board as the response operation continued.

Before the evacuation, Coast Guard watchstanders had activated an automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue system to alert ships in the vicinity and request help.

Two vessels responded to the emergency. The cargo ship Jin Hai Ping diverted to the scene and took the 22 mariners aboard from their lifeboats, while the tanker Degu also arrived and remained nearby to support the rescue effort.

By 12:21 on Friday, August 7, all 22 crew members had been safely transferred to Jin Hai Ping. The cargo vessel later transported the rescued mariners to Akita, Japan.

The Coast Guard said there were no reported environmental impacts from the incident. Meanwhile, arrangements are being made for the affected car carrier to undergo further repairs, with the vessel working alongside salvage specialist Resolve Marine.

Photo credit: DP World. All rights reserved.