Solomon Sea ADF rescue

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has coordinated the rescue of a small workboat with four people on board that went missing in the Solomon Sea near Papua New Guinea.

AMSA’s Response Centre received a request for assistance from Port Moresby’s Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre about 7.30pm (AEST) on 10 September after the 14-metre vessel broke down and was adrift north-east of Woodlark Island in the Solomon Sea.

AMSA’s response efforts were assisted with an Australian Defence Force (ADF) P-8 aircraft that located the vessel, which was still adrift, 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 sincerely thanks the ADF for its aerial assistance and the merchant vessel for its support.