Media Release

Two men rescued after fishing vessel swamped

Australian Search and Rescue (AusSAR) this morning coordinated the rescue of two men from the fishing trawler Moonraker after it was swamped and sank in heavy seas off Townsville.

The two men aged 34 and 20 abandoned ship to a liferaft and activated a distress beacon at about 10.30pm last night. The beacon was detected just as the men were able to make contact via mobile phone with a shore-based person who advised the police of the situation.

A Queensland Rescue helicopter sent from Townsville located the two men in their life raft at about 12.10am some 30 nautical miles (55 kms) north-east of Townsville.

The container ship Egelantiersgracht, en route from Gladstone to Darwin, responded to a request for assistance and advised AusSAR that they would be able to take the survivors on board.

The Queensland Rescue helicopter remained over the life raft to guide the ship into position.

The two survivors were transferred from the merchant ship to Townsville Water Police launch at about 5.30am this morning and returned to Townsville. The survivors were suffering no injuries.

Further information:

Ben Mitchell AMSA PR 0418 164 901

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