A U.S. Coast Guard search team spotted an overturned cargo vessel Saturday near Saipan while searching for a missing ship with six crew members, the Coast Guard said. The HC-130 Hercules crew saw the overturned vessel early Saturday, about 100 nautical miles northeast of where the Mariana was last spotted. The vessel matched the description of the Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo ship registered in the U.S., though the Coast Guard said it could not immediately confirm the vessel’s identity.
The discovery comes as search teams race to locate the Mariana’s crew, with confirmation of the vessel’s identity pending further investigation.
Engine Failure Amid Storm
The Mariana suffered engine failure Wednesday as Typhoon Sinlaku bore down on Saipan and nearby islands with fierce winds and heavy rain. After the crew reported engine failure and requested assistance, the Coast Guard set up a one-hour communication schedule with the vessel. Contact was lost Thursday, and an HC-130 plane launched that morning to conduct a search, but returned to Guam due to heavy winds.
The Mariana’s last known position was about 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan, which sits roughly 3,800 miles west of Hawaii. The overturned vessel was located 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan, a small island north of Saipan in the western Pacific. The Coast Guard did not know the nationalities of the six crew members aboard.
Search and Recovery Operations
A U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon crew, a Coast Guard cutter, and a Japanese coast guard aircrew equipped with a specialized dive team are participating in the search, according to Coast Guard officials in Honolulu.
Storm’s Broader Impact
Typhoon Sinlaku triggered floods, tore off roofs, and overturned cars on Saipan. The storm’s large size meant the island endured roughly 48 hours of fierce winds, which delayed responders’ ability to assess damage and help communities affected by the damage.