Mazda Decides to Scrap all Vehicles from Cougar Ace

In a December 15 news release, Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that that all 4,703 of the Mazda vehicles taken from the car-carrier “Cougar Ace” will be scrapped. This reverses a previous position from Mazda (and news release) that held hope that some of the vehicles might be sold as used. The “Cougar Ace” developed a massive list and nearly capsized off the Aleutian Islands in late July.

Salvage crews spent several weeks righting the "Cougar Ace," securing its cargo and making it habitable after the vessel listed to its side on July 24. The 654-foot Singapore-flagged car carrier notified the United States Coast Guard that they were listing and taking on water and the cutter “RUSH,” rescue helicopters and other salvage assets were then dispatched to the vessel’s location. The vessel’s entire complement of 23 crew members was then successfully evacuated.

Eventually, the cargo vessel “Cougar Ace” arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River and then proceeded to Cascade General Shipyard in Portland, OR, under tow. The vessel was towed from the waters of Wide Bay near Unalaska Island, Alaska. The vessel’s severe list lasted for almost a month until rectified by salvage crews.

Although some of the vehicles discharged from the vessel exhibited little or no visible damage from being tied-down at severe angles for an extended time period, Mazda decided that the risk for future problems far outweighed the minor benefit that might be achieved from selling a few of the vehicles as used. The announcement concluded Mazda’s two-month long vetting of the cars, and resulted in the decision to scrap the vehicles which had a reported retail value of about $100 million. The loss is the biggest in Mazda's 36-year history of U.S. sales.

From http://www.newsletterscience.com/marex/readmore.cgi?issue_id=194&article_id=1785&l=1&s=23284