In brief
The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed that the overturned vessel found near Saipan is the Mariana, which lost contact while attempting to navigate through severe weather from Typhoon Sinlaku. Efforts are ongoing to locate the six missing crew members.
HAGATNA, Guam (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that an overturned ship discovered near Saipan following a typhoon is the cargo vessel Mariana, which had six people on board when it went missing. The Coast Guard reported it is actively searching for the six crew members who were aboard the vessel. The Mariana was first spotted on Saturday after having been lost since its distress signal on Wednesday, when it experienced engine failure right before Typhoon Sinlaku made landfall. An HC-130 Hercules airplane dispatched by the U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron confirmed the identification of the ship on Sunday night. The vessel reported a loss of its starboard engine and initially established a communication schedule with the Coast Guard. Unfortunately, contact was lost on Thursday, and while a search mission commenced, heavy winds forced the team to return to Guam without success. The Coast Guard continues to coordinate search efforts in the affected area.
