Manalagi-Asti

The U.S. Coast Guard on Oct 23, 2013, coordinated a multi-agency long-range search for a 55-year-old mariner reported overboard the "Taipower Prosperity II" near the Republic of Palau. The Coast Guard Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu received a forwarded Inmarsat-C phone distress call from the Rescue Coordination Center Australia regarding a crewmember who was reported overboard off the motor vessel which was enroute from Port Kembla to Taichung in the Philippine Sea near the Republic of Palau. The JRCC Honolulu forwarded the information to watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Guam who began searching for assets in the region available to assist in the search. The missing mariner was reportedly the master of the ship. He was last seen Oct 23. After a thorough search of all spaces aboard the ship the master was not located and the ship made a 180 degree turn on its course tracking to begin the search. Assets involved in the search were the "Taipower Prosperity II", The Pacific Patrol Boat "Remeliik" from the Republic of Palau and the AMVER vessel "Ocean Symphony". Aerial searches have been conducted by an Australian P-3 Orion airplane, and a U.S. Navy CTF-72 P-3 and an SH-60 helicopter crew attached to the USS "Preble". A Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules airplane was launched from Air Station Barbers Point to join the search.