Missing Boats

The two boats, which had been reported as missing separately, were found in quick succession.

There were four survivors but one person had died.

The search and rescue operation was coordinated by the Rescue Coordination Centre Fiji after initial search efforts by Kiribati authorities failed.

The Orion was initially searching for a five-metre wooden fishing vessel, which had gone missing between Tarawa and Maiana Islands and had last been seen on 30 October.

The crew were later asked to also look for a smaller aluminium boat, 72 nautical miles west of Tarawa.

Port Master, Hakaumotu Fakapelea who is an experienced sailor and familiar with the seas in Tonga says the south Sub-tropical current lies parralel to Tongatapu and runs to Samoa across Ha’apai and Vava’u and is the strongest current in our waters.

According to Port Master Hakaumotu Fakapelea the Current travels at a speed of half to 1 knot per hour between Ha’apai and Tongatapu and could be stronger during high winds at sea.

The current Fakapelea said is at most times in harmony with Tonga’s trade wind direction which blows from south east.