Min Jiang Kou Fire Resurfaces in Panamanian Waters

On the night of September 7, a temperature rise was detected inside the abandoned car carrier Min Jiang Kou off Panama. It was more than a month after fire had driven the crew off the carrier.

Panama's Maritime Authority confirmed. Panamanian television aired footage showing smoke lifting from the stern. Three tugs worked alongside, directing water at the hull.

Min Jiang Kou is a 7,500-vehicle pure car and truck carrier built in 2024 and operated by COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers on LNG dual-fuel. The carrier's engine room caught fire on August 8, around 630 nautical miles south of Costa Rica, with smoke intensifying quickly enough that all 22 crew abandoned the carrier and were recovered safely. Resolve Marine contracted for salvage and began working to stabilise the hull for a long tow to an Asian repair yard.

By mid-September the carrier was still off Panama with no crew, no power and tugs maintaining station while salvage teams continued preparations for the ocean crossing.