Group rescued after week at sea

DARWIN: Thirteen people missing for a week in waters off Papua New Guinea after their boat broke down have been found alive with the help of Australia's maritime safety watchdog.

The 10m ferry reported it was in trouble on January 22 amid monsoon warnings near Alcester Island in the Solomon Sea, about 1000km northeast of Cairns.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority sent out its Queenslandbased Challenger jet to search for the missing vessel across some 6000sq km.

AMSA also asked ships in the area to search for the boat, response centre manager Stephen Hart said yesterday.

Showers and thunderstorms hampered search efforts, with widespread rain reducing visibility.

A cargo ship named Ken Hope found the missing boat on January 29 and rescued the 13 people aboard.

All were in good health and taken to Misima Island, about 300km south of where the vessel was reported broken down. — AAP