Crew Reviews, Ratings & Info for Min-Jiang-Kou

The vehicles carrier 'Min Jiang Kou' is set to be towed by the tug 'Lupo' (IMO: 9734290) following a recent fire onboard. Fortunately, all active flames have been extinguished, but the investigation into the fire's cause is still ongoing. The vessel is en route to Balboa, with an estimated arrival date of August 22. The blaze was successfully managed through the deployment of the vessel’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system. Reports indicate that there are no issues related to pollution or the vessel’s stability. The focus now remains on uncovering the circumstances that led to the fire.

On August 6, 2025, around 1 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard acted swiftly upon receiving a distress signal via Inmarsat GMDSS from the vehicles carrier 'Min Jiang Kou'. This vessel was navigating the waters approximately 600 nautical miles southeast of Costa Rica's Pacific coastline, on its journey from Shanghai to Manta, Ecuador. The call for help was prompted by an engine room fire that threatened the safety of the crew. The Coast Guard quickly communicated with the vessel's management, learning that the crew had employed the CO2 flooding system to combat the flames. Although initial reports indicated some success, conditions worsened as smoke levels began to rise once more later that evening. By around 11:30 p.m., the ship's master ordered the crew to evacuate into lifeboats while he bravely chose to stay onboard to keep watch over the situation. Responding to the Coast Guard's appeal for aid, two nearby merchant vessels—the bulk carrier 'Jin Hai Ping' (IMO: 9591040), sailing from Antofagasta to Akita, and the tanker 'Degu' (IMO: 9985849), en route from Long Beach to La Papilla—arrived at the scene to assist. By the following day, August 7, at 12:20 p.m., the 'Jin Hai Ping' successfully rescued all 22 crew members from their lifeboats, ensuring their safety as they journeyed to Akita. The owner of the 'Min Jiang Kou' is actively working with the American salvage firm Resolve Marine to determine the next steps for ensuring a secure recovery of the stricken vessel. However, the last AIS transmission on August 8 indicated the ship as Not Under Command (NUC) at position 04° 54' N 092° 42' W, leaving its current status and location ambiguous.