PNG fishers rescued at sea in Torres Strait
NINE fishermen who drifted in the Torres Strait without food or fuel for six days have been rescued by an Australian Border Force patrol boat.
The Papua New Guinean fishers were spotted at Warrior Reef, north of Thursday Island and west of Badu Island, by a Maritime Border Command (MBC) helicopter on Friday.
Australian Border Force’s Cape Fourcroy was sent and found them about 12.30pm.
Despite their ordeal, the men were all uninjured.
The Cape Fourcroy crew resupplied the men’s 7m-long banana boat with food, water and fuel, to allow them to continue to PNG under their own steam.
MBC Commander Rear Admiral Peter Laver praised the work of the ABF crew.
“While our focus in the Torres Strait is protecting Australia’s waters from maritime security threats, the presence of the dedicated crews of our MBC vessels means we are never far away when emergencies like these occur,” he said.
“The waters of the Torres Strait can be treacherous and these men are very lucky that MBC located and intercepted them when we did.”
In September 2015, a boat load of 21 PNG fishermen was rescued after their banana boat broke down near Tudu Island.
They were assisted by the Australian Border Force and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority which transferred them to Saibai Island, on the border of Australia and Papua New Guinea.