Searchers from several countries scoured the Pacific Ocean on Monday for six crew members missing from the cargo ship Mariana, which overturned during Typhoon Sinlaku near the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed Sunday night that an overturned vessel spotted Saturday is the Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo ship registered in the United States.
The search underscores the hazards commercial vessels face during tropical cyclones and the rapid coordination required for international maritime rescue operations. The incident comes as the Northern Mariana Islands continues to recover from Typhoon Sinlaku’s broader destruction, with residents managing water shortages and power outages.
The Vessel’s Distress and Loss
A U.S. Air Force HC-130 Hercules crew confirmed Sunday night that the overturned vessel spotted Saturday near the Northern Mariana Islands is the cargo ship Mariana. The plane deployed divers and boats to begin investigating the wreck.
“If divers locate a viable access point, the team may employ an underwater remotely operated drone to further investigate the vessel,” the U.S. Coast Guard said in a statement.
The Mariana lost its starboard engine Wednesday as Typhoon Sinlaku bore down on the island chain. After the crew reported the engine failure and requested assistance, the Coast Guard established a one-hour communication schedule with the vessel. Contact was lost Thursday morning.
A search plane launched that day to locate the ship but returned to Guam due to heavy winds. The Mariana’s last known position was about 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan, the capital of the Northern Marianas, and roughly 3,800 miles west of Hawaii.
Multi-Country Search Effort
By Monday, searchers from the Coast Guard and partnering agencies from Guam, Japan, and New Zealand had covered more than 99,000 square miles of ocean. Debris spotted about 110 miles northeast of the overturned vessel included a partially submerged inflatable life raft, the Coast Guard said.
Typhoon’s Broader Impact on Islands
Typhoon Sinlaku triggered floods and tore off roofs across Saipan. The islands endured roughly 48 hours of fierce winds, which delayed responders’ ability to assess full damage and assist communities, officials said.
The Northern Mariana Islands’ government requested an expedited major disaster declaration Sunday. If approved, it would unlock federal assistance for survivors and public infrastructure as well as hazard-mitigation funding.
Days after the typhoon passed, residents remained without basic utilities. Running water was slowly being restored in some villages thanks to generators provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Ed Propst, a former lawmaker working in the governor’s office.
But tap water remains unpotable. Residents typically purchase drinking water, which is now in short supply.
The combination of heat—the Marianas are typically very hot and humid—and a lack of air conditioning is making conditions extra uncomfortable, Propst said. “Last night there was no breeze,” he said. “Everything is just so still.”
Flooding from the storm has also worsened the region’s mosquito problem. “It’s pretty bad at night,” Propst said.
There have been no official updates on electricity restoration efforts.