SAIPAN — A federal and local interagency team is removing and processing vessels damaged by Super Typhoon Sinlaku from Outer Smiling Cove Marina in an operation expected to last 30 days and restore safe, full access to the waterway for residents and mariners, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
The work began Monday, June 1. As of June 8, operational hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Residents are asked to stay away from the work area and follow all safety signs and instructions.
The Coast Guard is deploying a 10-person team to lead operations alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the CNMI Department of Land and Natural Resources, T&T Marine Salvage and OSROCO. The effort is funded through FEMA under the active Presidential Disaster Declaration for the CNMI.
To protect public safety, road access at the connection points on Basin Place and Marina Lane will be closed for the duration of the operation. Heavy machinery, cutting equipment and diving operations require an unobstructed work zone. Boat ramp access and water access to Smiling Cove Harbor, the Transient Dock and Harbor will remain open and unaffected throughout the operation.
Operations will include salvage diving, mechanical removal and on-site processing of damaged vessels. Noise and heavy equipment activity are expected throughout the 30-day period. The public is asked to avoid the closed road corridor and to stay clear of the waterside work zone.
“The damage left by Sinlaku poses serious hazards to navigation and to the environment, and Saipan’s mariners and residents deserve safe, open access to their waterway,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jesse Harms, Federal On-Scene Representative for the U.S. Coast Guard. “This mission brings together the right partners with the right resources to get that access restored safely and efficiently. We ask for patience and cooperation with the road closure so our teams can focus on executing this mission without distraction.”
Super Typhoon Sinlaku struck the CNMI in April 2026, leaving widespread damage to vessels, infrastructure and coastal areas across Saipan and the Northern Mariana Islands. The Outer Smiling Cove vessel removal is one of several federal and local recovery efforts underway across the Commonwealth.
