HAGATNA, Guam — The body of one crew member from a cargo ship that capsized near the Northern Mariana Islands during a recent typhoon has been recovered, according to authorities. The search continues for the remaining five crew members who remain unaccounted for.
### Recovery Efforts
U.S. Air Force divers utilized an underwater remotely operated vehicle to search within the vessel, the Mariana, ultimately recovering the body on Tuesday. This operation was part of an extensive search and rescue effort led by the U.S. Coast Guard, which involved divers from the Japan Coast Guard as well. However, these additional examinations of the ship did not yield any further findings related to the missing crew members.
As recovery efforts progress, the Coast Guard and partnering agencies from Guam, Japan, and New Zealand have conducted searches over an extensive area, covering more than 99,000 square miles (256,000 square kilometers) of ocean in the vicinity of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
### Incident Background
The Mariana, a 145-foot (44-meter) U.S.-registered cargo ship, reported on April 15 that it had lost its starboard engine while navigating through Super Typhoon Sinlaku and required assistance. The vessel lost communication with the Coast Guard the following day, which raised concerns about the crew’s safety.
Cmdr. Preston Hieb, the search and rescue mission coordinator for the Coast Guard’s Oceania District, expressed condolences to the families of the crew and emphasized the mission’s ongoing commitment to locating the remaining crew members. “Our hearts are with the families of the Mariana crew members and the communities impacted by this tragic incident,” Hieb stated.
### Adverse Conditions
Heavy winds and severe weather hindered initial search operations; however, the overturned ship was located approximately 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Pagan, one of the islands comprising the Northern Mariana Islands, on Saturday. On Monday, Coast Guard teams reported spotting debris, including a partially submerged inflatable life raft, about 110 miles (177 kilometers) from the ship itself.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck the Northern Mariana Islands with significant force, leading to wind damage and flooding across the region. The weather conditions not only complicated the search and rescue efforts but also raised concerns regarding the safety of those aboard the Mariana.
The Coast Guard, alongside their international partners, continues to coordinate air and sea searches in hopes of finding the five remaining missing crew members. Their operations utilize all available resources as part of the ongoing response to this unfortunate incident.
Source: Original Reporting
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