HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to search for a missing cargo vessel Friday that experienced engine failure near Saipan Wednesday.
While flying on a first-light search Saturday morning (ChST), a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew sighted an overturned vessel about 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan, approximately 100 nautical miles northeast of the last known position of the cargo vessel Mariana.
Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders are working to gather more information about the vessel sighted by the aircrew.
U.S. Coast Guard aircrews, a U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon crew, and a Japan Coast Guard aircrew are slated to fly in support of continued search efforts.
On Wednesday, Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders received a report from the vessel manager of the Mariana, a 145-foot U.S.-registered dry cargo vessel, stating the vessel’s starboard engine was disabled with six people aboard approximately 140 miles north-northwest of Saipan.
Coast Guard watchstanders established a one-hour communication schedule with the Mariana via the vessel manager. There were no medical concerns at the time of the report.
Watchstanders lost communications with the vessel Wednesday evening and have not regained them. On Thursday morning, a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew launched to search for the vessel but returned to Guam due to heavy winds in the search area.
Anyone with information that may assist in search efforts should contact the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 or call the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu: 1-800-331-6176.
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