24 January 2014

Australia assists in rescue of sailor off Port Moresby

In an example of Australia’s strong, ongoing commitment to assist in search and rescue operations in the Pacific region, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has assisted in the rescue of an injured sailor approximately 78 nautical miles south west of Port Moresby.

The RAAF King Air passenger plane was diverted on a flight from Port Moresby to Townsville on Wednesday afternoon to search for the 10-metre Australian yacht, the Shivoo, whose solo skipper had activated an EPIRB distress beacon in PNG waters.

The plane located the yacht, which had lost its mast during a storm, and circled above the vessel until a search and rescue aircraft arrived from Cairns.

Members of the Royal Port Moresby Yacht Club joined a PNG National Fisheries Authority vessel to rescue the sailor, who had a leg injury, and tow the damaged yacht to Port Moresby. The sailor is receiving medical attention in Port Moresby.