Search and rescue effort continues

Friday morning’s extensive search operation has not recovered any survivors, however AMSA is confident the search area is accurate and there has been a number of sightings of non-survivors’ bodies, debris and the vessel’s hull movement is consistent with drift modelling.

Some of the recovered survivors have arrived at Christmas Island via HMAS Wollongong, WSA Dragon, JPO Vulpecula and Cape Oceania.

HMAS Wollongong is returning to the scene and will relieve HMAS Larrakia who will then transit to Christmas Island to offload its survivors.

Continuing the search effort throughout the evening will be AMSA’s Dornier, Australian Defence Force P3 Orion, a civilian aircraft as well as HMAS Wollongong.

Intentions are to continue searching through to Saturday afternoon, when plans will be reassessed.

Information on the condition of the vessel and the cause of the incident is still unknown.