THE Australian Maritime Safety Authority has co-ordinated the rescue of a boat with four people on board after it went missing in the Solomon Sea.
The 14-metre workboat Ogoi Ratz had broken down and was adrift north-east of Woodlark Island between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
AMSA’s response centre received a request for assistance from the maritime rescue co-ordination centre in Port Moresby at around 1930 on Saturday 10 September.
AMSA’s response efforts were assisted by an Australian Defence Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft which located the vessel, still adrift, at around midday on 13 September.
“The ADF aircraft remained overhead until a bulk carrier merchant vessel Uni Sunshine arrived and took the disabled vessel in tow,” AMSA said.
Uni Sunshine is a Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier, according to vessel traffic services.
“AMSA sincerely thanks the ADF for its aerial assistance and the merchant vessel for its support.”
It is understood the four people on board the boat were in good health when they were rescued.
