Tassie Devil takes long tow

HMAS Launceston (LCDR Mike Gough) recently arrived in Broome with four illegal fishing boats in tow. Launceston had sailed from Darwin Naval Base to tow two apprehended Foreign Fishing Vessels (FFV) from Ashmore Reef to Broome.

The fishing boats had been boarded and apprehended by HMAS Townsville (LCDR G.W. Goedecke) and were in the custody of the Australian Customs Vessel (ACV) Holdfast Bay. En route to Ashmore the ship found an Indonesian fishing boat fishing illegally inside the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone. The FFV was boarded and apprehended and became the first vessel in the tow. Launceston arrived at Ashmore and took custody of the two FFVs there, adding to the tow line.

Travelling towards Broome, Launceston was asked for assistance with another FFV detected by Coastwatch.

This boat became the fourth boat in the colourful ‘caravan’ streaming from Launceston’s stern. The ship arrived three days later off Willie Ck, her quarry still in tow. From here, Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) representatives took charge of the vessels and their crews. On 24 November, Launceston made an apprehension of an Indonesian Type III FV bringing the total to three apprehensions and five tows, a busy start to her patrol.

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