A U.S. Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane crew, assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Saturday, April 18, 2026, flies over an overturned ship offshore Saipan while searching for a missing ship, the Mariana, whose engine failed April 15.
AP/US Coast Guard/Air Station Bar
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AP/US Coast Guard/Air Station Bar
HAGATNA, Guam — An aerial search team spotted an overturned vessel that matched the description of a cargo ship that went missing with six people on board near the U.S. territory of Saipan, though officials could not confirm whether it was the same ship that was lost, the Coast Guard said Saturday.
The Coast Guard said an HC-130 Hercules crew spotted the ship early in the day about 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) northeast of the Marianas’ last known position. It was 34 nautical miles (63 kilometers) northeast of Pagan, a small island north of Saipan in the western Pacific Ocean.
The agency said in a statement that it had confirmed that the capsized ship matched the description of the US-registered 145-foot (44 meter) dry cargo ship Mariana.
Mariana’s engine failed on Wednesday as a ferocious typhoon struck Saipan and nearby islands with fierce winds and persistent rain. After the crew reported that the boat had lost its starboard engine and was in need of assistance, the Coast Guard scheduled a one-hour communications program with the ship.
But contact was lost on Thursday. That morning an HC-130 aircraft took off to search, but returned to Guam due to heavy winds.
Mariana’s last known position was about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north-northwest of Saipan, which is about 3,800 miles (6,115 kilometers) west of Hawaii.
Coast Guard officials in Honolulu are gathering information about the capsized vessel, the agency said in a statement.
The guards did not know the nationality of the Mariana’s missing crew members.
a US Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon crew; a Coast Guard cutter; And a ship equipped with a Japanese Coast Guard aircrew and a specialized diving team was to participate in the search.
Typhoon Sinlaku caused flooding in Saipan, breaking roofs and overturning cars. Officials said the storm’s large size meant the island endured nearly 48 hours of ferocious winds, delaying the ability of responders to assess damage and help communities.
