Editor’s note: Days and times included in this press release are Hawaii Standard Time (HST) unless otherwise specified.
HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard and partners continue to search Sunday for the missing crew of the cargo vessel Mariana.
At about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew sighted debris, including a partially submerged, partially inflated life raft, approximately 95 nautical miles northeast of the overturned vessel. At the time of this sighting, the overturned vessel had drifted 26 nautical miles northeast from where it was first located approximately 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan.
Search and rescue crews have not located the six crew members.
At about 6:40 p.m. Sunday, an HC-130 Hercules airplane crew with the U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron arrived on scene with the overturned vessel and deployed pararescuemen, divers and boats. The team confirmed the identity of the vessel as the cargo ship Mariana.
The divers are conducting a comprehensive subsurface evaluation of the Mariana's exterior. If divers locate a viable access point, the team may employ an underwater remotely operated drone to further investigate the vessel.
Coast Guard aircrews continue to search for the six crewmen in the vicinity of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. So far, Coast Guard crews and partners involved in the search have covered over 75,000 square nautical miles.
Involved in the search:
- Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu
- USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143), Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, Apra Harbor, Guam
- U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point, Kapolei, Hawaii
- U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan
- U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon airplane crew, Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26), Commander, Task Force 72 (CTF-72)
- Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream V jet
- Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel Akitsushima (PLH-32), Yokohama, Japan
- Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon airplane crew, RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand
At 1:12 p.m. Friday, a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew sighted an overturned vessel matching the description of the Mariana 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 received a report at 10:37 a.m. Wednesday from the vessel manager of the Mariana, a 145-foot U.S.-flagged dry cargo vessel, stating the vessel’s starboard engine was disabled with six people aboard approximately 125 nautical 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 at 1-800-331-6176.
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