Fire-damaged MIN JIANG KOU now in Panamanian waters

Ro-roOn 9 September, a Panamanian television station broadcast newly recorded footage of the PCTC MIN JIANG KOU in Panamanian waters, assisted by three tugs. The footage showed relatively heavy smoke coming from the aft section of the 7,500 CEU, 2024-built LNG dual-fuel vessel.

Two of the tugs were using their FiFi systems, reportedly to cool the vessel externally. The Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) has confirmed that MIN JIANG KOU is now in Panamanian waters, unmanned and in blackout condition. According to the AMP, the vessel is there to be prepared and stabilised for towage to a shipyard in Asia for repairs.

MIN JIANG KOU, owned by CMB Financial Leasing and commercially operated by COSCO Shipping, suffered a fire on 10 August while approximately 630 nautical miles off Costa Rica. The US Coast Guard reported at the time that the fire had started in the engine room and was brought under control relatively quickly using the vessel’s CO2-based firefighting system. However, less than 12 hours later, heavy smoke developed on board, necessitating the evacuation of the 22 crew members in the vessel’s lifeboat.

sep 15 2026