Lookout! – Issue 15
21 December 2009
Guidance notice – Issue 17:
Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) equipment testing
21 December 2009
19 July 2006
An Air Force Orion has spotted the two Tongan fishermen on board their 8-metre vessel who were reported overdue from a fishing trip near the Kao Islands on Saturday.
Radio communication with the two men confirmed they were okay.
The Rescue Coordination Centre was notified of the overdue vessel on Monday afternoon by the Tongan Police, and a request for assistance was made after a local search failed to locate the vessel.
An Air Force Orion covered an extensive search area of about 45,000 square kilometers yesterday but failed to find the vessel.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand has tasked another vessel near the area to assist the fisherman.
Families have been informed of the good news. The Air Force crew reported to Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand just after 10.10am they had found the vessel drifting in position 19 degrees 16 minutes South and longitude 173 degrees 25 minutes West.
For further information contact:
RCCNZ Media Line
Phone 04 499 7318