Saipan — April 29, 2026
Authorities have suspended the search for five crew members of the cargo ship Mariana, which overturned near the Northern Mariana Islands during Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Six people were aboard the 145-foot vessel; divers recovered one crew member’s body from the overturned ship on April 21.
Cmdr. Preston Hieb of the U.S. Coast Guard Oceania District said in a video posted on X that, despite extensive efforts, officials made the difficult decision to suspend the search and extended heartfelt condolences to the crew members’ families and the Saipan community.
The crew notified the Coast Guard that the Mariana had lost its starboard engines and needed assistance as the typhoon struck the Pacific island chain. The Coast Guard lost contact with the vessel the following day.
Strong winds initially hampered search operations, but the overturned ship was sighted on April 18 about 64 kilometers northeast of Pagan, one of the Northern Mariana Islands. Searchers also found debris, including a partially submerged inflatable life raft, roughly 177 kilometers from the vessel.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku caused wind damage and flooding across the Northern Mariana Islands as it moved through the region.
