Twenty-two crew members were rescued from the vehicles carrier Min Jiang Kou after the ship experienced a fire approximately 630 miles south of Costa Rica on Thursday, the US Coast Guard (USCG) has confirmed.
All 22 crew members successfully evacuated the 2024-built vessel using lifeboats and were rescued by the bulk carrier Jin Hai Ping, one of the two ships that responded to the emergency call.
The rescue operation began when watchstanders at the Southwest Coast Guard District received an Inmarsat distress alert at 1:09 p.m., reporting an engine room fire onboard.
Watchstanders established contact with the ship’s manager, who reported the crew activated the vessel’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system, which initially contained the fire.
Using the automated mutual-assistance vessel rescue system (AMVER), Coast Guard watchstanders reached out to nearby vessels, alerting them to the situation and requesting assistance.
According to the US Coast Guard, the ship’s crew reported at 11:33 p.m. increased smoke aboard the vessel. The captain ordered the crew to abandon the ship using the vessel’s lifeboats, while he remained aboard.
Two ships, the bulk carrier Jin Hai Ping and the tanker Degu, diverted to assist.
The vessel Jin Hai Ping recovered all 22 mariners from the lifeboats, while Degu remained on scene to assist.
At 12:21 p.m., Friday, all 22 mariners were reported safely aboard the Jin Hai Ping which, in accordance with the US Coast Guard, will transport them to Akita, Japan.
“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.”
The US Coast Guard said there is currently no reported environmental impact.
