NZ coordinates rescue of 36 fishermen

25 October 2015

This evening the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) has coordinated the rescue of 36 crew from a Papua New Guinean fishing ship.

Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator, Mike Roberts, said the one-year-old Papua New Guinea registered Glory Pacific No.8 activated its emergency beacon after an engine room fire disabled the ship.

The ship was 210 miles NNE of Tokelau, just inside the New Zealand search and rescue region. An offer was made by the United States Coastguard Honolulu to send a C130 Hercules aircraft to investigate. Because the location was so far North, the United States aircraft could get to the scene before RNZAF aircraft could from New Zealand.

RCCNZ located another fishing vessel, the Marshall Islands registered Lomalo, about 100 miles from Glory Pacific No.8 and directed it to Glory Pacific No.8's location.

All 36 crew from the Glory Pacific No.8 have now been rescued and its owners are making salvage arrangements.

ENDS

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