HAGATNA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard has verified that a capsized vessel discovered in waters near Saipan is indeed the cargo ship that vanished during a devastating typhoon, leaving six crew members unaccounted for.
Coast Guard officials announced Monday that they continue their search for the missing crew members. The upturned vessel was initially discovered on Saturday in the waters surrounding the U.S. territory.
A crew aboard an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from the U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron positively identified the capsized boat as the cargo ship Mariana on Sunday evening, according to a Coast Guard statement.
The 145-foot American-registered dry cargo vessel experienced mechanical problems on Wednesday when its starboard engine failed just as a powerful typhoon approached Saipan and surrounding islands, bringing devastating winds and heavy rainfall.
Following the crew’s distress call reporting the engine failure and requesting help, Coast Guard personnel established regular hourly communication with the struggling vessel.
However, all communication ceased on Thursday. A search aircraft was dispatched that morning but was forced to return to Guam due to dangerous wind conditions from the storm.
