Boat capsizes 21 rescued

[griz066]

Norval Charters, not sure how many boats they have in their fleet bit I think only one.
Hope all are ok.

http://www.smh.com.au/queensland/boa...811-11ymc.html

[PinHead]

it is not Norval..nowhere in the report does it say it is them. Appears to be another charter as per the other reports.

[griz066]

it is not Norval..nowhere in the report does it say it is them. Appears to be another charter as per the other reports.

When I posted that at 8:55 there was no mention of the Bell Cay in the story. It has been updated. So my apologies.

[Fishbait]

From the Qld Police Website:
Marine Incident, Yeppoon: Yeppoon Water Police are enroute to retrieve 21 people currently onboard a local vessel at Swains Reef, via Yeppoon. At 5.30am AUSSAR received 2 EPIRB activations, quickly identifying that the vessel contained 17 passengers and four crew members who had been tipped in the water after their 22-metre vessel overturned. The weather at the time was 30 knots, north easterly with a strong wind warning. Around 7.20am all 21 people were in a life raft, uninjured. At 8.20am a local vessel has retrieved all 21 people and Yeppoon Water Police vessel Lyle Hoey will pick up the passengers from this vessel around 3pm today, before returning them to Yeppoon around 9pm.
Reference: http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+an...08/11mrup1.htm

[Fishbait]

One more reference:
More than 20 people have been plucked from a life raft off Queensland after violent weather pushed their vessel onto a reef, causing the boat to capsize.
Police say rough weather caused the charter fishing boat to capsize at Swains Reef, about 200 kilometres off Yeppoon, at about 5.30am (AEST) on Wednesday.
An emergency beacon was activated, alerting authorities.
Inspector David Peff said a passing fishing vessel plucked all 21 from a life raft before police arrived.
It's unclear whether any were thrown from the sinking vessel and had to tread water before climbing into the raft.
Marine Services Queensland is investigating the cause of the accident.
Insp Peff said the fishing vessel used its six-foot dory, a shallow draft boat, to reach the raft and transport the stranded to the ship.
"We do know there was fairly rough seas out there with significant winds," Insp Peff said.
"I heard it got up to 50 knots, that's quite rough."
He said the rescued had minor scratches and bruises.
They are being transported to Yeppoon in a police vessel and are expected to arrive around 8pm (AEST).
A major rescue operation was launched after the Australian Rescue and Safety Authority (AusSAR) detected two signals from emergency beacons.
Authorities immediately mobilised a fixed-wing aircraft, three emergency choppers and three nearby vessels.
"At 7.20am, AusSAR advised all 21 crew and passengers were in a life raft," a police spokeswoman said.
"AusSAR then made arrangements for a local vessel to rescue all 21 passengers."
Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Gavin Holcombe said there was storm activity in the region overnight.
"At that particular time there was a trough in the area," he said.
"We measured wind speeds around 20 to 25 knots in that area. It could have been higher, we just don't know. They were in an area where there's very few observations."
The owner of the capsized boat, Bell Cay Charters, based in Yeppoon, said its 22-metre vessel was hit by huge winds overnight.
"They had big winds - 52 knots of wind - I've been informed by maritime safety," a partner in the business, Wayne Thorpe, told AAP.
"They had a 180-degree wind change about 1am (AEST)."
Swains Reef is a popular spot for offshore fishing and many charter vessels run trips there.
Reference: Nine News http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=7943199

[lethal098]

Shit, glad they are all ok, would not be much fun having that happen, could have quite easily ended a lot worse.

Lee