Paluma renews Gilligan’s spirit

“Now, sit right down and hear the tale
The tale of a fateful trip. Taken to a desert isle
Aboard a survey ship”

It may not have been Gilligan and the rest of the crew from the ill-fated Minnow, but while conducting survey operations near Lady Musgrave Island, HMA Ships Paluma (LCDR Michael Gulyas) and Mermaid (LCDR Ross Bowden) received a call from Volunteer Marine Radio (VMR) Round Hill that two men in a 17ft Quintrex runabout were two days overdue.

Paluma’s LUB was launched in heavy wind and high seas to investigate. On arrival at Lady Musgrave the Paluma team, led by the XO, LEUT Wendy Stewart, quickly located the missing men and a further five holiday makers (including three French backpackers) who found themselves stranded on the island with only a salami and a few litres of water.

The castaways were offered a free passage to Gladstone aboard the luxurious Paluma. The offer was declined and instead a supply of fresh food and water was provided by Mermaid to a handful of extremely grateful people happy in the knowledge that the Navy would soon be in contact with loved ones to reassure them they were safe and well.

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