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Coast Guard Searching Off Guam for Six Missing After Typhoon Sinlaku Disabled Cargo Ship

9h Developing 2 sources

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching off Guam for six crew members missing after a cargo ship was disabled by Typhoon Sinlaku. The 145-foot dry cargo ship Mariana lost its starboard engine during the storm, leaving six people unaccounted for. Crew members contacted the Coast Guard on April 15, and communications were lost the afternoon of April 16. An HC-130 Hercules aircraft launched from Guam but returned because heavy winds grounded search efforts, with searches set to resume at first light.

Super Typhoon Sinlaku also caused damage on nearby Tinian and Saipan and brought flash flooding to parts of Guam. FEMA Region 9 is ramping up its response as shelter-in-place orders lift in the territory.

Early reports noted only that the Coast Guard had lost contact with a disabled boat; newer reporting identified the vessel as the Mariana and provided a clearer timeline and operational setbacks. ABC News supplied the identifying details, timestamps and the aircraft update that expanded understanding of rescue challenges.

Typhoon Sinlaku and Pacific U.S. Territories Coast Guard Search and Rescue U.S. Disaster Response Severe Weather and Disasters Maritime and Aviation Safety
This story is compiled from 2 sources using AI-assisted curation and analysis. Original reporting is attributed below. Learn about our methodology.

📌 Key Facts

  • The missing vessel is the 145-foot dry cargo ship Mariana; its starboard engine failed and six people are missing after losing contact following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
  • The crew contacted the U.S. Coast Guard on April 15, and communications with the ship were lost the afternoon of April 16.
  • The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting searches in the Pacific off Guam for the six missing crew members.
  • An HC-130 Hercules aircraft was launched to assist the search but had to return to Guam due to heavy winds; searches were scheduled to resume at first light.
  • Super Typhoon Sinlaku caused damage on Tinian and Saipan and flash flooding in Guam; FEMA Region 9 is ramping up its response as shelter-in-place orders lift.

📰 Source Timeline (2)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

April 17, 2026
8:57 PM
Coast Guard searches for 6 after losing contact with boat disabled by Typhoon Sinlaku
PBS News by Associated Press
8:24 PM
Coast Guard searching in Pacific for 6 after losing contact with boat following Typhoon Sinlaku
ABC News
New information:
  • Identifies the vessel as the 145-foot dry cargo ship 'Mariana' and notes it lost its starboard engine.
  • Specifies that the crew contacted the Coast Guard on April 15 and that communications were lost the afternoon of April 16.
  • Reports that an HC-130 Hercules aircraft was launched but had to return to Guam due to heavy winds, with searches to resume at first light.
  • Notes Super Typhoon Sinlaku caused damage on Tinian and Saipan and flash flooding in Guam, and that FEMA Region 9 is ramping up its response as shelter-in-place orders lift.