Lookout! – Issue 15
21 December 2009
Guidance notice – Issue 17:
Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) equipment testing
21 December 2009
19 August 2006
A rescue is underway for two fishermen whose vessel sank 130 kilometres south of Greymouth on the West Coast of the South Island in the early hours of this morning.
The vessel sank nearly four hours later at 3:47 am and the crew transferred to the vessel’s liferaft.
The Rescue Coordination Centre is keeping in touch with the two fishermen by way of a cell phone.
Rescue Coordination Centre Mission Controller Keith Allen said that another fishing vessel, the Amatal Columbia, had arrived on the scene and was launching its rescue boat to pick up the two men.
“A rescue helicopter from Te Anau which has night vision equipment has also been despatched and is expected to arrive in the area shortly”, said Mr Allen.
The weather in the area is improving, with two metre sea swells. The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand was alerted to the fishermen’s plight at around 1:00 am this morning when of the crew of the 17 metre Challenger II issued a distress call on maritime radio, indicating the vessel was adrift and taking on water.
For further information contact:
RCCNZ Media Line
Phone 04 499 7318