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A swift response from the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) and the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) resulted in the successful rescue of two men who had been adrift at sea for over a week, approximately 105 nautical miles south of Tonga. The men, aboard the 11.5-meter wooden vessel Mysterious Wonder, were located and brought to safety after a multi-day search operation launched following a missing person report filed on Tuesday.
The dramatic rescue highlights the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) capabilities in maritime search and rescue, and its commitment to assisting those in distress in the South Pacific. The operation began when Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre requested assistance in locating the overdue vessel, which had departed Tongatapu, Tonga, on February 8th. The RNZAF’s involvement initially came through a P-8A Poseidon aircraft already conducting maritime surveillance for illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in the region.
The P-8A Poseidon, diverted from its original mission, located the Mysterious Wonder at 10:15 am yesterday. Following the discovery, the call went out to HMNZS Canterbury, a Royal New Zealand Navy vessel, to conduct the physical rescue. The Canterbury had recently completed a trip to Tokelau supporting Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro’s visit to mark the centenary of New Zealand administration of the island, and was en route to the Kermadec Islands when it altered course to assist.
A Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) was launched from the HMNZS Canterbury late yesterday evening, successfully bringing the two men aboard. They were then transferred to Tonga via an RNZAF NH90 helicopter embarked on the Canterbury this morning, bringing the ordeal to a close. The rescued men were reported to be in excellent condition following their time at sea.
Search and Rescue Operation Details
The search area covered a significant expanse of ocean, making the operation particularly challenging. The P-8A Poseidon crew played a crucial role in narrowing the search parameters, ultimately leading to the vessel’s discovery. According to Commander Wayne Andrew, the Commanding Officer of HMNZS Canterbury, the rescue was a testament to effective teamwork. “This was an excellent combined effort to locate and rescue the crew members,” he said. “The P-8A crew did a fantastic job locating the vessel in a large search area about 105 nautical miles south of Tonga. We were fortunate to be in a position to be able to assist the two men.”
The RNZAF P-8A Poseidon had been flying to Fiji to base overnight before resuming the search Wednesday morning, demonstrating the logistical reach of New Zealand’s defence capabilities. The vessel’s initial mission focused on identifying vessels engaged in illegal fishing, a persistent concern in the Pacific region. A recent deployment of the P-8A Poseidon identified 74 fishing vessels in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of 14 Pacific Island countries, including Tonga, according to Matangi Tonga.
HMNZS Canterbury’s Mission Continues
Following the successful rescue, HMNZS Canterbury is continuing its journey to Raoul Island, the largest and northernmost island of the Kermadec Islands. There, the crew will assist MetService and Earth Sciences New Zealand personnel with essential upgrade and maintenance work on critical weather, tsunami, and volcano-monitoring equipment and facilities. This underscores the multi-faceted role of the RNZN in supporting both humanitarian efforts and vital scientific infrastructure in the Pacific.
The rescue operation serves as a reminder of the inherent risks faced by those navigating the Pacific Ocean and the importance of robust search and rescue capabilities. The swift and coordinated response from the NZDF undoubtedly prevented a potentially tragic outcome.
The focus now shifts to ensuring the continued functionality of the monitoring equipment on Raoul Island, bolstering the region’s ability to detect and respond to natural disasters. Further updates on the HMNZS Canterbury’s mission will be released as they turn into available.
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