The Australian Maritime Safety Authority managed to save thirteen crewmembers who had been missing almost a week in the Solomon Sea.
In fact, 13 seafarers were stranded at sea, as their vessel broken down on the 22nd of January in the vicinity of Alcester Island, 585 kilometres east of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Following the sitution, the Papua New Guinea search and rescue authorities requested AMSA’s help on the 27th of January, in order to issue a broadcast to shipping for the missing boat.
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AMSA from its side, immediately acted and deployed its Cairns-based Challenger jet to conduct a search for the vessel, focusing on an area of approximately 5926 square kilometres.
“While conducting the search, the AMSA Challenger jet notified ships in the search area of the missing vessel. One of those ships, the cargo vessel KEN HOPE was able to locate the missing vessel and rescue the 13 persons”.
Upon rescuing the missing persons, the KEN HOPE diverted to Misima Island, Papua New Guinea, to land the survivors.
Thankfully, all of the survivors were reported to be in good health.
“As Australia’s search and rescue region totals about ten percent of the earth’s surface, our team is kept very busy. However, being able to help our neighbours like Papua New Guinea is incredibly rewarding. It also builds cooperation and capability across the broader pacific search and rescue region.”
…AMSA Response Centre Duty Manager, Mr Stephen Hart, concluded.