Media Release
14 February 2008
Four sailors successfully rescued
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) coordinated the successful rescue of four New Zealand sailors overnight approximately 250 kilometres east of Byron Bay in adverse weather conditions.
AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia dispatched two of its dedicated search and rescue Dornier aircraft to the location of the Silhouette II, a 45ft catamaran that had received a hole to its hull and was taking on water rapidly.
Both the Essendon Dornier and the Cairns Dornier, along with a Defence P3 Orion were able to provide continuous top-cover and direct the bulk carrier, Alltrans to the exact location of the sinking yacht.
All four people, who had taken to their life raft, have now been successfully transferred to the Alltrans which is headed to Gladstone.
Media inquiries: Tracey Jiggins 0418 164 901