A Coast Guard search aircraft has located a capsized ship that may be the missing cargo vessel Mariana, which vanished with six people aboard during a powerful typhoon near Saipan, officials announced Saturday.
The HC-130 Hercules search plane discovered the overturned vessel Saturday morning approximately 100 nautical miles northeast of where the Mariana was last tracked, according to Coast Guard officials. The capsized ship was found 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan, a small island located north of Saipan in the western Pacific.
Coast Guard officials confirmed the capsized vessel appears consistent with the Mariana’s description – a 145-foot dry cargo ship registered in the United States.
The cargo vessel experienced engine trouble Wednesday when Typhoon Sinlaku approached Saipan and surrounding islands, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall. After the crew radioed that their starboard engine had failed and they required help, Coast Guard personnel established hourly radio contact with the ship.
However, all communication ceased Thursday. A search aircraft departed that morning but was forced to return to Guam because of dangerous wind conditions.
The Mariana’s final recorded location was roughly 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan, positioned about 3,800 miles west of Hawaii.
Coast Guard headquarters in Honolulu is collecting details about the capsized vessel, according to an official statement.
Authorities have not released information about the crew members’ nationalities.
Multiple assets will join the ongoing search operation, including a U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft, a Coast Guard cutter, and Japanese coast guard aircraft and vessels with specialized diving capabilities.
Typhoon Sinlaku caused extensive damage across Saipan, creating flooding, destroying rooftops, and flipping vehicles. The storm’s massive size subjected the island to approximately 48 hours of destructive winds, hampering emergency responders’ efforts to evaluate damage and assist affected communities.
