SAIPAN — A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircrew spotted an overturned vessel matching the description of the Mariana on April 17, about 100 nautical miles northeast of the ship's last known position, during a search for six people missing off Saipan. The Coast Guard confirmed the overturned ship matched the description of the Mariana.
The overturned vessel was located 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan island. Coast Guard officials in Honolulu were gathering information on the capsized vessel.
The Mariana, a 145-foot dry cargo vessel registered in the United States, went missing with six people on board near the U.S. territory of Saipan, which sits about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii. The vessel's last known position was about 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan. The Coast Guard did not know the nationalities of the missing crew members.
On April 15, the crew of the Mariana notified the Coast Guard that the boat had lost its starboard engine and needed assistance. The engine failure occurred as Typhoon Sinlaku approached Saipan and nearby islands. The Coast Guard set up a one-hour communication schedule with the vessel.
Contact with the Mariana was lost on the afternoon of April 16. The Coast Guard launched an HC-130 Hercules to search for the six people on board, but the aircraft had to return to Guam because of heavy winds.
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, delaying responders' ability to assess damage and help communities.
A U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon crew and a Coast Guard cutter were to take part in the search. A Japanese coast guard aircrew and vessel equipped with a specialized dive team were also to join the effort.