At 012025UTC Feb 2012, RCC Australia
received an initial satellite detection of a distress beacon belonging
to the passenger vessel MV Rabaul Queen. The EPIRB, coded to Papau New
Guinea was registered to the 47 metre MV Rabaul Queen. The distress
beacon which resolved at 012106UTC Feb 2012 was the first and only
notification of a distress. This resolved position was approximately 9
nautical miles offshore and 60 nautical miles from Lae.
This information was immediately communicated to the PNG Maritime
Rescue Coordination Centre. At the request of PNG, RCC Australia issued
a broadcast to shipping requesting assistance. Further intelligence
obtained confirmed that the MV Rabaul Queen was on a voyage from Kimbe
to Lae as a passenger ferry with approximately 350 persons embarked.
The first ship, MOL Summer, arrived on scene and soon after located a
life raft and indications that the ferry had sunk. A further five
merchant vessels responded to the broadcast and commenced recovering of
survivors. In addition, three local helicopters were tasked by RCC
Australia, in support of MRCC Port Moresby, and assisted in the search
and rescue action. During the following 8 hours the RCC dispatched a
Forward Field Base to PNG, deployed two Dornier aircraft and tasked an
Australia Defence Force P3 Surveillance aircraft. At sunset on the first
day five merchant vessels with 246 survivors on board proceeded to the
port of Lae and transferred survivors ashore under the coordination by
PNG authorities.
Over the following three days, the RCC continued to assist MRCC Port
Moresby in the coordination of maritime and air search assets using
fixed-wing aircraft, local helicopters and merchant vessels. Overall 246
survivors were rescued.
Cospas-Sarsat