The United States Coast Guard has launched a search operation for six people after losing contact with a disabled cargo vessel off the coast of Guam in the aftermath of Typhoon Sinlaku.
The crew of the 145-foot dry cargo vessel, identified as the Mariana and registered in the United States, first alerted authorities on Wednesday, April 15, that the vessel had lost its starboard engine and required assistance, according to Petty Officer 3rd Class Avery Tibbets.
Following the distress notification, the Coast Guard established scheduled hourly communications with the vessel. However, contact was lost on the afternoon of April 16.
A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft was deployed to search for the missing vessel and its crew, but the mission was cut short due to severe weather, including strong winds associated with Typhoon Sinlaku. The aircraft was forced to return to Guam, with search operations expected to resume at first light.
Six missing at sea after cargo vessel disabled
The vessel’s last known position was approximately 125 miles north-northwest of Saipan. Authorities have not confirmed the nationalities of the six people on board.
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The incident comes as Super Typhoon Sinlaku batters the Northern Mariana Islands, causing widespread disruption across the region. The storm has already caused damage on the islands of Tinian and Saipan, while Guam has experienced flash flooding.
U.S. federal agencies have begun scaling up response efforts as conditions gradually improve. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with multiple federal partners, has been deployed to support local authorities in both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
“This is a very complex event, but we have a lot of experience and have worked very closely with Guam and CNMI over the years to prepare for these types of events and are well-positioned to do that again here today,” said Robert Fenton, FEMA Regional Administrator for Region 9, in an interview with AP from Guam.
Fenton said agencies involved in the response include the Department of Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others.
The search operation is also taking place against the backdrop of communications challenges in the region.
U.S. Coast Guard advisory following Typhoon Sinlaku
On April 15, the Coast Guard warned mariners of outages affecting very high frequency (VHF) radio communications across Guam, Rota, Saipan, and surrounding waters.
According to the Coast Guard, outages at remote fixed facility towers have reduced communication coverage from coastal areas to as far as 20 nautical miles offshore.
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Officials warned that the disruptions could affect distress calls and other safety communications.
“The Coast Guard remains committed to protecting the safety of life at sea,” said Coast Guard Commander Patton Epperson, incident commander for Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. “We are coordinating closely with our agency partners to reduce risks associated with these outages.”
Mariners were advised to avoid going out to sea due to dangerous conditions and to use alternative communication methods such as satellite phones or emergency distress beacons where possible.
The Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu also issued safety broadcasts to alert vessels operating in the affected areas.
Authorities have not provided further updates on the missing vessel or its crew as search efforts continue under challenging weather and communication conditions.
