An airplane search crew from the United States Coast Guard has spotted an overturned ship that matches the description of a cargo vessel reported missing with six individuals on board near the western Pacific territory of Saipan. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether this is the same vessel that was lost, according to a statement released by the Coast Guard on Saturday.
Search Operation Details
The sighting occurred early in the day when an HC-130 Hercules crew observed the overturned vessel approximately 100 nautical miles northeast of the Mariana's last known position. This location is about 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan, a small island situated north of Saipan in the western Pacific Ocean.
Identification of the Vessel
In an official statement, the Coast Guard confirmed that the overturned ship matches the description of the Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo vessel registered in the United States. The Mariana experienced engine failure on Wednesday as a powerful typhoon approached Saipan and surrounding islands, bringing severe winds and heavy rainfall.
After the crew reported losing the starboard engine and requested assistance, the Coast Guard established a one-hour communication schedule with the vessel. However, contact was lost on Thursday, prompting the launch of an HC-130 plane for a search mission. That initial search had to be aborted and the plane returned to Guam due to adverse weather conditions with heavy winds.
Last Known Position and Ongoing Efforts
The Mariana's last confirmed position was approximately 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan, which is located about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii. Coast Guard officials based in Honolulu are currently gathering additional information about the capsized ship. At this time, the nationalities of the six missing crew members remain unknown.
International Search Collaboration
The search operation involves multiple agencies and resources. A United States Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon crew, a Coast Guard cutter, and a Japanese coast guard aircrew with a vessel equipped with a specialized dive team are all participating in the efforts to locate the missing individuals and investigate the overturned vessel.
Impact of Typhoon Sinlaku
The severe weather conditions that contributed to this incident were caused by Typhoon Sinlaku, which triggered widespread flooding, removed roofs from buildings, and overturned vehicles on Saipan. Officials noted that the storm's large size resulted in the island enduring roughly 48 hours of intense winds, significantly delaying responders' ability to assess damage and provide assistance to affected communities.
