Update 4/22/26

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard and partners continue to search Tuesday for missing crew members of the cargo vessel Mariana.

U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron divers recovered one deceased individual from the overturned cargo vessel Mariana during dive operations at about 5:12 p.m. Monday. The divers conducted a comprehensive subsurface evaluation of the Mariana’s exterior and used an underwater remotely operated drone to search the interior of the vessel. 

At 2:17 p.m. Tuesday, the crew of the Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel Akitsushima arrived on scene alongside USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143) and deployed divers to further examine the vessel. Divers did not locate any additional crew members. 

Coast Guard aircrews continue to search for the five missing crewmen and an orange 12-person life raft in the vicinity of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  

“Our hearts are with the families of the Mariana crew members and the communities impacted by this tragic incident,” said Cmdr. Preston Hieb, search and rescue mission coordinator, Coast Guard Oceania District. “We continue to search in close coordination with our partners, using all available resources to support the ongoing response.” 

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. 

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  

Update 4/18/26

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard continues to search for a missing cargo vessel Saturday that experienced engine failure near Saipan Wednesday.  

Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu watchstanders confirmed that an overturned vessel sighted by a Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point HC-130 Hercules airplane crew during a first-light search Saturday (ChST) matches the description of the Mariana, a cargo vessel that experienced engine failure near Saipan Wednesday.  

The overturned vessel was sighted by the airplane crew about 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan, approximately 100 nautical miles northeast of the last known position of the cargo vessel Mariana. 

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. The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143) and the crew of a Japan Coast Guard vessel equipped with a specialized dive team will also join the search.  

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. 

Update 4/18/26

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. 

Initial Story

HONOLULU — The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a missing cargo vessel Friday that experienced engine failure near Saipan Wednesday.

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 has 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.

The Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules is scheduled to conduct a first-light search Saturday morning (GST). The last known position of the Mariana is approximately 140 miles north of Saipan.

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.