Australia Ends Indian Ocean Refugee Boat SAR

Australian Maritime Safety Authority calls off search & rescue (SAR) as no further realistic prospect of finding any more survivors.

On the final day of the operation four merchant vessels and HMAS Maitland recovered 55 survivors. All survivors, including three with injuries, have been taken to Merak, Indonesia where they are receiving medical attention. One body was recovered during the operation.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority thanks the vessels involved in the search who helped to save 55 lives which otherwise would have been lost. Details as follows:

HMAS Maitland (34 survivors) APL Bahrain (15 survivors) AS Carelia (four survivors) Gwendolen (one survivor) Da Qing Xia (one survivor) MV's Chemroute, Forever South West, Voyage Explorer, Frontier Coronet, World Swan, & Pelafigue Tide