A Royal New Zealand Air Force P3 Orion has now reached the scene of a search and rescue operation underway in the Southern Ocean today. Forty-five survivors have been recovered from life rafts following the sinking of the New Zealand-chartered, Korean-flagged fishing vessel 'Oyang 70' around 4.30am local time.
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Mike Roberts said three bodies had also been recovered. Three people, including the ship's master, were still unaccounted for. Mr Roberts said five vessels were at the scene assisting with the search.
The Orion is conducting an aerial search of the area, and assisting with directing the on-water search. The sea conditions were good, but fog was hampering visibility at this point, Mr Roberts said. It was hoped the fog would clear as the day progressed.
"We have so far recovered five life rafts but have been advised there was a sixth life raft on board. We remain hopeful of locating the three missing men," Mr Roberts said.
RCCNZ initiated the search after receiving an alert from the vessel's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) at 4.40am. The 82-metre trawler has 51 foreign crew – from Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines and China – on board.The EPIRB alert was followed shortly after by a mayday call from the same position, approximately 400 nautical miles east of Dunedin, relayed by the fishing vessel 'Amaltal Atlantis', which reported that the 'Oyang 70' had sunk. Mr Roberts said the 'Amaltal Atlantis' would transport the survivors to Dunedin once the search was concluded..
