At 8.55pm on Friday 26 November 2010 Tasmania Police were notified by Port Control, Hobart of a boat in danger. A 15 metre catamaran, Sea Eagle 5, had issued a may-day call after colliding with an unknown object approximately 15 nautical miles north-east of Maria Island. The vessel was taking on water and the skipper advised that he and the only passenger were launching the life raft and activating the EPIRB.

The vessel was returning to Tasmania after concluding charter operations in Queensland.

Tasmania Police, in conjunction with AUSSAR and Port Control, co-ordinated the response. AUSSAR deployed an aircraft, the Police helicopter was activated and PV ‘Dauntless’ began heading to the area. Police vessels at Triabunna and Swansea were placed on standby.

Swansea Police (Sergeant Stingel) and Port Control identified a number of vessels in the area, the closest being 7 nautical miles away. This vessel began heading and was soon able to see the lights of the sinking vessel and made contact with the life raft via a hand-held radio.

Both persons were rescued from the life raft at 11pm, the EPIRB de-activated and the life raft towed. The catamaran is now fully submerged with only the top of the mast visible. The location of the vessel has been plotted.

The skipper of the rescue vessel, ‘Annette Margaret’, transported the rescued persons to Coles Bay, arriving at 5.30 a.m. Both rescued persons were uninjured.

Arrangements have been made for Swansea Police to meet the vessel at Coles Bay, arrange for precautionary medical attention and de-brief the skipper of the sunken vessel to determine the cause of the sinking.

Tasmania Police Media
(03) 6230 2296