Car Carrier Abandoned After Catching Fire 630 Miles Off Costa Rica

The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of 22 crew members from a vehicle carrier after an engine room fire forced the crew to abandon ship roughly 630 miles south of Costa Rica.

Coast Guard Southwest District watchstanders received an Inmarsat distress alert from the Marshall Islands-flagged Min Jiang Kou at 1:09 p.m. Thursday, reporting a fire in the vessel’s engine room.

The crew activated the ship’s carbon dioxide fire suppression system, which initially contained the blaze, according to the Coast Guard. Watchstanders also established contact with the vessel’s manager and began coordinating assistance.

Given the ship’s remote location, the Coast