The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of 22 crew members from the Marshall Islands-flagged vehicle carrier Min Jiang Kou after an engine room fire approximately 630 miles south of Costa Rica.

Coast Guard Southwest District watchstanders received an Inmarsat distress alert at 1:09 p.m. on Thursday. After contacting the vessel’s manager, they were informed that the crew had activated the ship’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system. The system initially contained the blaze.

Watchstanders then used the Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System, known as AMVER, to identify and contact ships in the area. Nearby vessels were alerted to the emergency and asked to provide assistance.

At 11:33 p.m., the crew reported that smoke aboard Min Jiang Kou had increased. The captain ordered the mariners to abandon the vehicle carrier using its lifeboats, while remaining on board at that stage of the emergency.

Two merchant ships diverted in response to the distress call. The motor vessel Jin Hai Ping recovered all 22 mariners from the lifeboats, while the motor tanker Degu remained at the scene to provide further assistance.

By 12:21 p.m. on Friday, all 22 mariners had been reported safely aboard Jin Hai Ping. The assisting vessel was due to transport them to Akita, Japan.

Capt. Jessica Davila, Southwest District chief of incident management, said the response demonstrated the maritime community’s commitment to protecting life at sea. She also highlighted the importance of international cooperation and coordinated assistance in responding to mariners in distress.

No environmental impacts had been reported following the fire. Arrangements were also being coordinated with Resolve Marine for further repairs to Min Jiang Kou. The available report did not provide additional details about the extent of the fire damage or the vessel’s subsequent condition.