HAGATNA, Guam — A U.S. Coast Guard airplane search crew spotted an overturned ship matching the description of a cargo vessel that went missing with six people on board near Saipan, though officials could not immediately confirm it was the Mariana, the Coast Guard said Saturday.
The HC-130 Hercules crew saw the overturned vessel early in the day about 100 nautical miles (185 kilometers) northeast of the Mariana’s last known position and about 34 nautical miles (63 kilometers) northeast of Pagan, a small island north of Saipan in the western Pacific.
The agency said the capsized ship matched the description of the Mariana, a 145-foot (44-meter) U.S.-registered dry cargo vessel. The Mariana experienced engine failure April 15 as Typhoon Sinlaku approached Saipan and nearby islands. After reporting a loss of the starboard engine and requesting assistance, the vessel had been on a one-hour communication schedule with the Coast Guard, but contact was lost Thursday.
A HC-130 initially launched Thursday morning but returned to Guam because of heavy winds. The Mariana’s last known position was about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north-northwest of Saipan. Saipan is roughly 3,800 miles (6,115 kilometers) west of Hawaii.
Coast Guard officials in Honolulu were gathering information on the overturned ship. The agency did not release the nationalities of the six missing crew members.
The search involves multiple assets, including a U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon, a Coast Guard cutter, and Japanese coast guard air and surface units with a specialized dive team.
Typhoon Sinlaku caused flooding, tore off roofs and overturned cars on Saipan. Officials said the storm’s large size brought about 48 hours of strong winds, which hampered responders’ ability to assess damage and assist communities.