The fire-damaged Ro-Ro vessel Min Jiang Kou is undergoing specialised salvage operations in Panamanian waters after suffering an engine-room fire while sailing in the Pacific.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was approximately 600 nautical miles from Panama when the incident occurred. Following the fire, the vessel was left unmanned and in blackout condition, without electrical power. A specialised salvage company subsequently requested permission to bring the vessel into Panamanian waters for stabilisation work.
The Min Jiang Kou, designed to transport cars, trucks and heavy machinery, was sailing towards Manta, Ecuador, when the fire occurred. Earlier reports said all 22 crew members were safely evacuated after the engine-room fire.
During salvage operations, an increase in temperature was detected in some areas of the vessel’s decks on the night of September 7. Salvage teams are carrying out hull-cooling operations while technical teams investigate the cause of the renewed heat.
Three tugboats are currently involved in efforts to stabilise and secure the vessel. Panama’s Maritime Authority (AMP) is monitoring the operation and the vessel’s safety conditions in coordination with the specialist salvage company.
The immediate objective is to stabilise the vessel and ensure that it can be safely moved to a shipyard in Asia for further inspection and repairs. The timing of the transfer will depend on the outcome of the technical assessments and the vessel’s condition.
The incident highlights the challenges involved in recovering large vehicle carriers following serious onboard fires, particularly when vessels are left without power or propulsion. Continued cooling and stabilisation will be critical before salvage teams can proceed with the next stage of the recovery operation.