Search Underway for Missing Cargo Ship Mariana

The US Coast Guard reported on Saturday that an HC-130 Hercules airplane search crew spotted an overturned vessel approximately 100 nautical miles northeast of the last known position of the missing cargo ship Mariana.

The overturned vessel was located about 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan, a small island north of Saipan in the western Pacific Ocean. The Coast Guard stated the overturned ship matched the description of the Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo vessel registered in the US.

Authorities have not confirmed whether the overturned vessel is the missing Mariana.

Background of the Incident

The Mariana reported engine failure on Wednesday as Typhoon Sinlaku approached Saipan and nearby islands. The crew reported losing the starboard engine and requested assistance. The Coast Guard established a one-hour communication schedule with the vessel.

Contact with the Mariana was lost on Thursday.

An initial search flight by an HC-130 plane that morning was terminated due to heavy winds, and the plane returned to Guam. The Mariana's last known position was about 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan.

Six people were reported on board the Mariana. The nationalities of the crew are not known.

Current Search Status

Coast Guard officials in Honolulu are gathering information on the capsized ship.

Multiple assets are involved in the search, including a US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon crew, a Coast Guard cutter, and a Japanese coast guard aircrew and vessel equipped with a specialized dive team.

Impact of Typhoon Sinlaku

Typhoon Sinlaku caused flooding, roof damage, and overturned cars on Saipan. Officials stated the storm's size resulted in roughly 48 hours of fierce winds, which delayed damage assessment and community assistance efforts.