Missing Fijian fishers found by RNZAF Poseidon crew
“The search area was large due to the amount of time the fishing boat had been drifting, but we were able to provide the P-8A crew an area to search, which is where the vessel was found.”
Friday 13 October 2023 | 11:24
Fishermen on board on the Lewa were located by crew on a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon.
Three Fijian fishermen who went missing for nine days on their 8.5-metre wooden fishing boat were found by the crew of a P-8A Poseidon aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The fishermen left Lautoka on the boat Lewa with the intension of spending two weeks fishing at Nanuya Island, which is part of the Yasawa group.
The last time they were in communication was on October 2, when they had reported engine problems.
Related stories
Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre manager of operations, Michael Clulow, said his team provided location data that gave the Poseidon crew the best chance of finding the missing fishers.
“Our team conducted detailed analysis that included data from nine days of oceanic currents and weather to identify a search area using computer modelling,” he said.
“The search area was large due to the amount of time the fishing boat had been drifting, but we were able to provide the P-8A crew an area to search, which is where the vessel was found.”
The fishermen were carrying life jackets and flares but had no locator beacons or communications equipment other than a mobile phone, which was believed to have run out of battery.
Fishermen on board on the Lewa were located by crew on a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon.
Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, a different fishing boat combed the area for the Lewa for several days, but unfortunately, their search was unsuccessful.
After receiving a request for assistance from the Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji, the Poseidon crew initiated their search efforts.
The radar and visual search commenced on Wednesday morning and the fishing boat was found in the afternoon.
Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott, said it was a challenging search over a large area given the nine days since the fishermen were last in contact.
“However, the excellent search data provided by Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre and the manner in which the fishermen had prepared themselves to survive at sea led to this successful outcome.
“The P-8 is proving itself a highly effective and responsive asset to support the people of New Zealand and our Pacific neighbours and was no doubt an incredibly welcome sight for the people on board the fishing vessel,” he said.
Feedback: adi.sovasiga@fijisun.com.fj
