The crew of the Australian boat Tai Tam (51 feet) were forced to abandon their vessel on September 28, 2026, after colliding with a whale. The incident occurred approximately 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island, a remote volcanic island in the South Pacific Ocean. The four sailors spent several hours in a lifeboat.
Details of the Incident and Rescue Operation
At 1:00 PM on Saturday, the four sailors activated their EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) to notify authorities that they had abandoned their boat. The New Zealand Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre received the alert and immediately commenced a rescue operation. A P-8A aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force was dispatched to search for the four individuals in the area.
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The aircraft crew managed to establish two-way communication with the sailors in the lifeboat. Meanwhile, the rescue center informed the vessels present in the area and requested assistance. The sailors spent the night in their lifeboat until they were rescued the next morning.
Rescue by Container Ship
The container ship Sofrana Nautilus (12,500 dwt) responded to the distress call and altered course towards the rescue area. This ship, flying the Maltese flag, operates for ANL Singapore. The rescue coordinator at the rescue center stated, "This was a well-coordinated and executed rescue operation. The boat crew took all the right actions and unfortunately collided with a whale in open water. They were well-prepared, and the early activation of the EPIRB played a key role in their rescue."
The Sofrana Nautilus eventually reached the four sailors around 6:00 AM and brought them aboard the ship. The sailors reported that the sea was rough, with waves up to two meters (6.5 feet). The ship was in the process of transporting the rescued individuals to the nearest port for disembarkation. The ship's AIS indicates that it made a stop in Nouméa, New Caledonia today and will then continue to Brisbane, Australia.
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