At about 7 pm AEDT last night, AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) detected a GPS encoded 406MHz distress beacon in the Bass Strait.
The beacon was traced to an 11-metre twin masted yacht in distress about 53 nautical miles south west of Victoria’s Wilson’s Promontory.
RCC Australia tasked AMSA’s Essendon based dedicated search and rescue Dornier aircraft to respond and issued a broadcast to shipping. A nearby cargo ship responded to the broadcast to shipping and headed to the scene.
An Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter was also tasked to assist and dropped a radio to the people on board the yacht.
The Dornier aircraft arrived on scene about 8 pm AEDT and remained overhead until the rescue was completed.
All three men were rescued from the yacht by the cargo ship about 9.45 pm AEDT last night.
The rescued men arrived in Melbourne in the early hours of this morning. One of the men was transported to hospital for medical assessment.
This incident is a reminder for distress beacon owners to ensure contact details are up to date. In this incident, the distress beacon was still registered to the yacht’s previous owner; however the fact that the beacon was GPS encoded assisted RCC Australia in pinpointing the yacht’s location within minutes.
All distress beacons should be registered with AMSA. To register your distress beacon or update your contact details, contact AMSA on 1800 406 406 or go online at www.beacons.amsa.gov.au
Having a properly registered distress beacon means emergency authorities can contact you or an emergency contact if your beacon is activated and get help to you as soon as possible.
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