Mariana Vessel Reviews and Specifications

**Title: Ongoing Search Efforts for 'Mariana' Missing Crew Members** The search for the crew members missing from the overturned vessel 'Mariana' is still underway, as the U.S. Coast Guard, alongside various partners, intensified efforts on April 23. Coast Guard aircrews and the USCGC 'Oliver Henry' (WPC 1140) meticulously combed the waters east of the Northern Mariana Islands, while a Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream V jet joined the search efforts later that afternoon. Prior to this, on April 22, Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft initiated a search operation encompassing an area 44 nautical miles northeast of Agrihan, a location approximately 250 miles north of Saipan. Tragically, one deceased individual was recovered from the capsized cargo vessel during underwater operations conducted by U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron divers on April 20. As of now, Coast Guard teams and their partners have devoted over 71 hours to the search, covering an extensive area of around 100,000 square nautical miles. The Coast Guard is urging anyone with pertinent information that could aid in the ongoing search to reach out via VHF-FM channel 16 or contact the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu at 1-800-331-6176. The search operation includes contributions from several key organizations: - Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu - USCGC Frederick Hatch (WPC 1143), Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, Apra Harbor, Guam - USCGC Oliver Henry (WPC 1140), 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 - U.S. Air Force 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota Air Base, Tokyo - U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft, Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26), Commander, Task Force 72 (CTF-72) - Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream V jet and patrol vessel 'Akitsushima' (PLH-32), Yokohama - Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft from RNZAF Base Ohakea, New Zealand Updates on the search can be followed through the U.S. Coast Guard’s official channels. For the latest report, including a photograph, visit: [US Coast Guard Press Release](https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4469757/update-5-us-coast-guard-partners-search-for-crew-of-capsized-vessel-offshore-sa/).

**Title: Recovery Efforts Intensify as One Deceased Found in 'Mariana' Wreckage** On April 21, the U.S. Coast Guard, in collaboration with multiple agencies, continued their relentless search for the missing crew members of the ill-fated vessel 'Mariana'. A tragic development unfolded on April 20 at approximately 5:12 p.m., when divers from the U.S. Air Force's 31st Rescue Squadron managed to recover the body of one deceased individual during their rigorous dive operations. In an effort to gather crucial insight on the situation, divers conducted a thorough external assessment of the 'Mariana' before deploying an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to investigate the wreck’s interior. Despite their efforts, the search did not reveal any additional crew members. The following day, on April 21 at 2:17 p.m., the Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel 'Akitsushima' joined forces with the USCGC 'Frederick Hatch' (WPC 1143) at the site of the wreck. Their divers resumed the examination but unfortunately did not locate any further survivors. Coast Guard air crews persist in their search for the five missing crew members and an orange 12-person life raft in the waters surrounding the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Authorities encourage anyone with pertinent information that may aid the search efforts to reach out via VHF-FM channel 16 or contact the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu at 1-800-331-6176. The search operation involves a consolidated effort from multiple organizations including: - Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu - USCGC 'Frederick Hatch' (WPC 1143) - Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam, located in Apra Harbor, Guam - U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point in Kapolei, Hawaii - U.S. Air Force 31st Rescue Squadron based at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa - The U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft crew from Patrol Squadron 26 (VP-26), under Task Force 72 (CTF-72) - Japan Coast Guard Gulfstream V jet - Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel 'Akitsushima' (PLH-32) from Yokohama - Royal New Zealand Air Force's P-8A Poseidon aircraft crew stationed at RNZAF Base Ohakea. As search operations continue, the hope remains that further discoveries can be made in the challenging conditions of the surrounding waters.

**Title: Ongoing Search Efforts for Crew of the 'Mariana' After Capsizing Incident** The U.S. Coast Guard, in collaboration with international partners, has intensified its search operations for the missing crew members of the 'Mariana', a vessel that capsized recently. As of April 20, the search teams have assumed a robust approach to locate the six missing individuals amid challenging conditions. On April 18, at approximately 7:30 p.m., an HC-130 Hercules aircraft from the Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point spotted debris in the water, including a life raft that was partially submerged and inflated. This discovery was made approximately 95 nautical miles northeast of the site where the vessel was originally reported overturned. Significantly, the wreck had drifted about 26 nautical miles northeast from its initial position, located around 34 nautical miles northeast of Pagan. The subsequent day, April 19, at around 6:40 p.m., the U.S. Air Force's 31st Rescue Squadron joined the search efforts with their HC-130 Hercules aircraft. They reached the area of the overturned 'Mariana' and swiftly deployed a team of pararescuemen and divers to assess the situation. Upon arrival, the team confirmed the identity of the wrecked vessel and initiated a thorough subsurface evaluation of its exterior. If divers manage to find a secure access point, they may utilize an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for further inspection, potentially uncovering vital clues regarding the vessel’s capsizing or the whereabouts of any crew members who may have taken refuge inside. The drifting of the 'Mariana' and the surrounding debris fields prompted the Coast Guard to analyze local currents and weather patterns, allowing them to refine search areas around the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effectively. To date, coast guard teams and their partners have diligently searched over 75,000 square nautical miles as of April 19. The search effort is being coordinated by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) Honolulu, which includes a comprehensive multinational collaboration. The ongoing operation involves: - 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 - U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft crew from 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) from Yokohama, Japan - Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft crew from RNZAF Base Ohakea The search area has now expanded to cover nearly 100,000 square miles, highlighting the complexity of the mission and the level of international cooperation required. Authorities urge anyone with information that could assist in the ongoing search to contact the Coast Guard via VHF-FM channel 16 or to reach out to the Joint Rescue Coordination Center Honolulu at 1-800-331-6176.

The National Maritime Services Inc., the court-appointed custodian for the arrested "Luta", has asked District Court for the NMI to enforce its previous order of requiring the parties to pay NMS $124,878.93 before the vessel was released. Investor Takahisa Yamamoto should pay NMS $101,223. The crewmembers, for their part, should pay $7,058.77; Long Consulting $11,531.06; and Norton Lilly, $5,065. In October, Yamamoto sued Luta Mermaid, the registered owner of the "Luta", and Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog for fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Joining the lawsuit as intervenors were the vessel’s former crewmembers, Long Consulting and Norton Lilly who were all seeking payment from the "Luta". The court order stated that all parties in the lawsuit are responsible to share in paying the custodian, in proportion to the value of their claims from the time of the vessel’s arrest. NMS has in good faith provided substitute vessel custodian services that the court ordered for October, November, December, and January. NMS has been transparent and forthright as to the related expenses by twice filing detailed invoices of its expenses with the request for payment all of which, he added, are undisputed. Despite the court’s order and despite now having complete access to NMS’s contract terms and NMS fees and costs, not one party has provided any sort of objection to any particular fee or cost incurred or estimated by NMS. Not one party has objected to the court’s proposed apportionment schedule — in response to NMS’s second payment request, they instead provided general objections without providing any evidence as to the alleged unreasonableness, the lawyer added. The other parties have attempted to settle with each other without apparently allowing for (except apparently for the crewmembers) any sort of offset in order to ensure NMS was paid for their share of its services before the vessel is released. Designated Judge Frances M. Tydingco-Gatewood said the vessel will be sold for a minimum of $550,000 on Feb. 8, 2017 at 10 a.m.

ThE Long Consulting LLC, through its counsel Daniel Guidotti of Marianas Pacific Law LLC, has filed a verified complaint in intervention in federal court against the Luta Mermaid LLC, the operator and owner of the "Luta". According to the complaint, in 2015, Luta Mermaid through Abelina Mendiola approached Long Consulting or LCL regarding a loan for funds sufficient to bring the "Luta" from its dock in Louisiana into active service in the CNMI. In her capacity, Abelina Mendiola, as president of Luta Mermaid, signed a loan agreement whereby LCL agreed to loan $300,000 to Luta Mermaid in exchange for the vessel as collateral plus other promises. In addition to the loan agreement, Abelina signed a security agreement which pledged the vessel as security for the loan agreement. A true and correct copy of the loan agreement and security agreement was attached to the complaint as Exhibits A and B. LCL recorded the security agreement in the CNMI on Nov. 17, 2015 as File No. 15-0248, and filed the security agreement as a preferred mortgage with the United States Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation center on Nov 18, 2015. The National Vessel Documentation Center notified LCL that it had accepted the security agreement for filing as a “preferred mortgage” on June 21, 2016. On Nov 4, 2015, Luta Mermaid gave a promissory note in favor of LCL in “the principal amount of $300,000 together with interest on the unpaid principal balance” at a rate of 10 percent per year. The complaint said Abelina herself, on Nov. 4, 2015, in her capacity as attorney-in-fact for Deron Mendiola, and Fidel Mendiola, signed a guaranty of secured indebtedness through which Abelina, Deron and Fidel unconditionally guaranteed full payment of the sums due under the note and performance of Luta Mermaid’s obligation under the loan agreement, the security agreement and other agreements that Luta Mermaid made with LCL in connection with the $300,000 loan. LCL disbursed $300,000 to Luta Mermaid in accordance with the loan agreement and the note, and on information and belief, Luta Mermaid used the loan proceeds to fund the vessel’s operating expenses from its dock in Louisiana to the CNMI. Luta Mermaid operated the vessel in the Pacific Ocean, specifically in the waters around Saipan, Tinian, and Rota until the U.S. Marshals Service seized the vessel on Oct 25, 2016 after the Mendiolas’ Japanese partner sued them and Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog for fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment. Takahisa Yamamoto said the co-defendants owe him $3.4 million. Last week, crew members of the "Luta" sued Luta Mermaid over unpaid salaries and wages. Read more: http://www.mvariety.com/cnmi/cnmi-news/local/90721-another-lawsuit-against-mv-luta-owner

he U.S. Marshals Service seized yesterday afternoon the controversial cargo ship M/V Luta after Japanese investor Takahisa Yamamoto filed a lawsuit in federal court against Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog and some owners of the ship for allegedly refusing to pay back the $3.4 million he put up for the vessel. Three deputy marshals, accompanied by Yamamoto counsel George Lloyd Hasselback, boarded a small boat to serve the arrest order on a crewman of M/V Luta, which was anchored in the channel near Smiling Cove Marina and Port of Saipan. After Yamamoto filed the lawsuit yesterday, U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona directed the U.S. Marshals Service to “arrest” the 146.5-by-38-foot 237 gross ton M/V Luta. Manglona also commanded the U.S. Marshal Service to “arrest” the ship’s engines, furniture, tackle, appurtenances, and other necessaries. Aside from Hocog, Yamamoto is also suing M/V Luta, Luta Mermaid LLC, Abelina T. Mendiola, Deron T. Mendiola, Fidel S. Mendiola III, Fidel Mendiola Jr., and Robert Toelkes. http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/marshals-seize-mv-luta/