DPR 57/97 Wednesday March 19, 1997
AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE ASSIST IN SEARCH FOR MISSING VESSEL
The Australian Defence Force is again assisting the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in a maritime search and rescue to locate the yacht QUEEN CHARLOTTE.
A Royal Australian Air Force C-130 transport aircraft is due to arrive in the area of the yacht in distress at 6:00 pm AEST this afternoon after departing RAAF Base Richmond at 1:00 pm AEST.
QUEEN CHARLOTTE, an Auckland registered yacht, with five persons on board, is estimated to be 275 nautical miles south west of Honiara in the Solomon Islands and 600 nautical miles east of Cairns.
The C-130 will search the area until 8:00 pm AEST tonight and recover to RAAF Base Townsville.
A RAAF P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft has been despatched to RAAF Base Townsville. It will depart at 6:30 am AEST Thursday 20 March 1997 and resume the search for the QUEEN CHARLOTTE. The P-3C Orion is expected to remain in the search area for about nine hours before recovering to Honiara.
HMAS MELBOURNE, a Guided Missile Frigate, that was participating in Exercise Tandem Thrust 97, has also been ordered to the search area. HMAS MELBOURNE has one Seahawk helicopter embarked and is expected to arrive in the search area on Friday 21 March for rescue duties if required.
Further information:
Brigadier Paul Tys (06) 265 1153 (b/h)
(0419) 465 392 (mob)