THE Australian Maritime Safety Authority is co-ordinating the rescue of two crew members from a sailing vessel in the Tasman Sea.
At the time of writing (Tuesday afternoon) it is understood the 14.2-metre boat is around 164 nautical miles (305 kilometres) east of Lord Howe Island.
AMSA said its response centre was advised by a family member of the crew at around 0300 on Monday morning that the vessel had encountered severe weather.
The vessel was reportedly caught in 10-metre seas and high winds when it sustained damage to its steering and began taking on water.
An emergency beacon was activated at around 0500 that morning.
Images from New Zealand-based maritime data service Starboard Maritime Intelligence indicate two tankers – Ionic Artemis and Fairchem Aldebaram – changed course and stopped around 40 kilometres from where the sailing vessel last reported on AIS.
Starboard data also suggests wave heights increased considerably in the Tasman after the vessel departed from New Zealand.
AMSA said it has deployed its Melbourne-based Challenger rescue aircraft, which has been in communication with the crew.
It said the defence force also responded with multiple Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, which have been providing overhead visual reassurance to the crew.
“AMSA had also diverted two merchant vessels one of which is now in the area,” the maritime authority said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
“The NSW Police vessel Nemesis is still en route and is expected to arrive about 11pm [Tuesday night].”
AMSA said it has been in contact with the crew and their family throughout the rescue mission, who are “all in good spirits”.
This is the second time AMSA has co-ordinated a sea rescue in the past week.
Over the weekend, it deployed the its Perth-based rescue aircraft and diverted a bulk carrier to rescue a sailor off the Western Australia coast.
