Mazda Cars Stranded on Cougar Ace

The fate of thousands of Mazda Motor Corp. cars is uncertain after the ship carrying them to North America rolled over on its side in the Pacific Ocean. The automaker had 4,700 vehicles aboard the automobile carrier Cougar Ace that began taking on water on July 23 and listed so heavily that the 23 member crew had to be rescued the following day the US Coast Guard. The 199.3 m Mitsui OSK. Lines ship was still afloat on July 26 with its keel and propeller out of the water, but did not appear to be sinking, a US Coast Guard spokesman said. Mazda imports most of its vehicles to North America from Japan. The shipment aboard the Cougar Ace was bound for Vancouver, B.C., Tacoma, Wash., and then Port Hueneme near Ventura, Calif. More than half the cars on board are Mazda 3 models. Another quarter of the cars are Mazda's all-new 2007 CX7. According to NineMSN, the shipment is fully insured against loss. (Source: NineMSN- Sydney)