The US Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of 22 crewmembers from a pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) after the ship experienced a fire approximately 630 miles (1,000 kilometres) south of Costa Rica on Thursday, August 6.
At 13:09 local time, Coast Guard Southwest District watchstanders received an Inmarsat distress alert for the Marshall Islands-flagged PCTC Min Jiang Kou, alerting watchstanders of an engine room fire on board.
Watchstanders established contact with the ship’s manager, who reported that the crew had activated the vessel’s CO2 fire suppression system, which initially contained the fire.
Using the automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue system, coast guard watchstanders reached out to nearby vessels, alerting them to the situation and requesting assistance.
At 23:33, the ship’s crew reported increased smoke aboard the vessel. The captain ordered the crew to abandon ship using the vessel’s lifeboats, while he remained aboard.
Two Good Samaritan ships, the cargo vessel Jin Hai Ping and the tanker Degu, diverted to assist. Jin Hai Ping recovered all 22 mariners from the lifeboats, while Degu remained on-scene to assist. At 12:21 on Friday, August 7, all 22 mariners were reported safely aboard Jin Hai Ping, which then transported them to Akita, Japan.
The coast guard said there are currently no reported environmental impacts, and the ship is coordinating with salvage company Resolve Marine for further repairs.