Media Release

Search continuing in Great Australian Bight

Australian Search and Rescue is continuing to coordinate an extensive search for two men missing in a shark fishing boat in Australia’s remote south-west.

The men left Esperance, WA last Friday (8/11) in the 13.2 metre Adriatic Star on a 340 nautical mile (630 km) trip to Wanteen near Eucla in the Great Australian Bight. They have not been heard from since an intermittent satellite phone call to the vessel’s owner last Saturday night that did not provide position details.

Today, 11 fixed wing aircraft, one helicopter and one fishing boat will search a 3592 square nautical mile area for the missing men. The search area extends along the coast from Point Culver to Twilight Cove and about 55 nautical miles out to sea.

A WA Police cliff rescue party will today examine wreckage located yesterday at Point Dover.

WA police were first notified of the overdue fishing boat and because of the very limited number of search assets available in the area passed coordination to AusSAR.

The weather in the search area is poor with 20 to 30 knot winds and a change expected this afternoon.

Further information:

Ben Mitchell 0418 164 901

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