4700 Mazdas headed to the scrap yard!

[Kirby]

A whole new meaning to the phrase "LIST PRICE"

The Singapore-flagged cargo vessel Cougar Ace has tipped over off the coast of Alaska. All 23 crewmembers have been rescued. The same cannot be said, however, for the 4,700 Mazdas aboard the ill-fated 654-foot ship.

According to Mazda, 60% of the cars aboard are Mazda3s, and 30% are CX-7 SUVs. The Associated Press reports that the Cougar Ace tipped after her ballast was adjusted in the open sea. The resulting imbalance sent her over into the 60-degree list she is currently experiencing. As seen in the US Coast Guard photo above, her keel, rudder, and propeller are all out of the water.

The Coast Guard reports that aside from the list, the ship is stable and not sinking. Mitsui O.S.K., the Cougar Ace's owners, has initiated a salvage operation and the company they're working with is expected onsite in approximately one week.

Mazda does not know the extent of the damage to its vehicles and will refrain from further comment until it has more solid information, but based on photos of the ship, it looks like it's safe to assume that the conditions in the hold are, at best, a gigantic mess.

 

[epj3]

Ah maybe some mazda 3's will join the depths of the sea like those bmw's did a while back

 

[deutsch100]

Great post, Thanks Kirby. Can you imagine if the car you ordered was on the ship? This is not as bad as the cargo ship that sunk a few years ago, that was carrying the first shipment of the new Volvo SUV.

Can they help this ship? Can it be "righted" up, or will they have to sink it?

 

[bmw046series]

Oh what a shame! I think this has happened to Toyota and Honda a couple times, the Pacific is a bitch to navigate a ship.

 

[jrt67ss350]

I'm actually really surprised to see how clean the hull of that ship is.

 

[///M SPEED]

Oh what a shame! I think this has happened to Toyota and Honda a couple times, the Pacific is a bitch to navigate a ship.

Hehe, it happeded to BMW too....

 

[Big Daddy]

That seems to be a pretty flat bottom ship for ocean going?

 

[tool fan]

4700 less Mazdas on the road...... is that RAELLY a tragety????

 

[Militant-Grunt]

4700 less Mazdas on the road...... is that RAELLY a tragety????

I would definitley say so, Rx-8 is an incredible car for what it is, and I have a very high respect for the Mx-5 aswell. I nearly bought an Rx-7, I was just a little short on money =).

 

[mclarensmps]

Damn that is not good at all, its actually quite amazing how the ship is floating on it's side, and the ship also looks pretty new judging by the condition of it's hull (or it is extremely well maintained...) as mentioned before me.

 

[Jeff's z3]

10 were my brother's!

My brother owes the Mazda dealership in Everett, Wa. and 10 were on there way to him..... I know there that most of the 3's were factory orders for customers. Atleast the 7 that he had on there. The 3 CX7's were also sold and now they don't know when the replacments will come. I agree that it is a shame when anything like this happens! Peace....Jeff

 

[mclarensmps]

Imagine having to explain something like this to the customer:

"Sir, I regret to inform you that the ship carrying your car has rolled over, we have to wait for another shipment now"

Jeez, it just sucks all around...

 

[tool fan]

Would have been better if it was Ford Fiestas