10 December 2006
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is coordinating maritime assistance for five people on board a 28 metre fishing vessel, Santa Maria II, which has lost power about 600km north of East Cape.
The crew also activated their 406 distress beacon.
Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Dave Wilson said a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion aircraft was tasked to search for the crew but shortly before departing, the Santa Maria II crew made further radio contact to say there was no longer a fire and all five were safely back on board the vessel. However, they had no power and needed to be towed.
RCCNZ has tasked a vessel positioned closest to Santa Maria II to assist with the tow. They will be reached by about midnight tonight.
The crew are in regular radio contact with the Maritime Operations Centre.
Sea conditions are rough (25 – 30 knots with 3m swells).
RCCNZ has no other information about the crew at this stage.
Further information will be released as it comes to hand.
Maritime Operations Centre received a distress radio call about 12:30pm. Five people had abandoned the vessel into a life raft after losing power and seeing smoke coming out of the engine room. Their fire fighting equipment failed but they managed to shut the door to the engine room.
For further information contact:
RCCNZ Media Line
Phone 04 499 7318
