Media Release
Successful rescue of 16 fisherman in East Torres Strait
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority coordinated a rescue effort last night of 16 fisherman off the Taiwanese 35 metre registered vessel San Chi No. 12.
The Rescue Coordination Centre of AMSA was notified by Taipei authorities at about 5.20pm EST Wednesday 26 April, that the vessel had grounded itself on the Port Lock Reef approximately 80 nautical miles East of Yorke Island.
A distress relay broadcast was sent to all shipping in the area to seek support from surface vessels that could assist the stranded vessel. A Defence patrol boat and other small merchant ships in the area were available to assist but were some hours away from the San Chi.
Throughout the night three fixed wing aircraft, including the AMSA dedicated Dornier search and rescue aircraft from Darwin, the dedicated search and rescue aircraft based in Cairns and a Customs Coastwatch Dash 8, remained in the area to provide observation and communications with the crew on board until first light.
At approximately 7.30am EST two rescue helicopters from Yorke Island and Cairns arrived on scene and successfully rescued all crew from the vessel back to Yorke Island.
