The U.S. Coast Guard successfully coordinated the rescue of 22 crew members from the Marshall Islands-flagged vehicle carrier Min Jiang Kou, which suffered a fire about 630 miles south of Costa Rica. The incident began Thursday at 1:09 p.m. when watchstanders received a distress alert indicating an engine room fire. The crew activated the ship’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system, which initially contained the blaze.
As smoke increased later that evening, the captain ordered the crew to abandon ship using lifeboats, while he remained onboard. The Coast Guard utilized the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER) to alert nearby vessels for assistance. Two ships, the motor vessel Jin Hai Ping and the motor tanker Degu, responded to the call.
By 12:21 p.m. on Friday, all 22 mariners were safely aboard the Jin Hai Ping, which is set to transport them to Akita, Japan. Captain Jessica Davila emphasized the maritime community’s commitment to protecting lives at sea, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in emergency situations. No environmental impacts have been reported, and the ship is coordinating repairs with Resolve Marine.
