MHCs scan for sunken trawler

Ships’ companies of the mine hunters Norman and Hawkesbury were given a sombre task as they headed from Sydney to exercises north of Australia.

Off Innisfail they were tasked to use their ship’s sonar equipment to try to locate a trawler, which sank with loss of life off the coast in July.

One member of the trawler’s crew survived by clinging to an upturned “tinny” for 40 hours. A cruise boat saved him.

Despite the best efforts by the two MHCs the trawler was not located.

• By Graham Davis

.