26 Oct 2015

Fishing boat was sinking into Pacific Ocean when help arrived.

5:57 pm on 26 October 2015
US Hercules

Photo: AFP

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre says a boat stranded in the Pacific Ocean with 36 crew was starting to sink when help arrived.

The Papua New Guinean vessel, Glory Pacific Number 8, activated its emergency beacon when its engine caught fire 340-kilometres northeast of Tokelau, and the crew took to a smaller boat when it began sinking.

The centre established the location last night and called in a US Coastguard plane to assist, before another fishing boat arrived to help.

A search and rescue officer at the coordination centre, John Dixon, says the crew were in danger

"When the US Hercules departed the scene the mother ship was above water, but only just apparently, so it was seen that it was taking on water. It may sink. We don't know but it is up to the owner to try and salvage that vessel right now."

John Dixon says the boat's owner did not request help for many hours even though he knew the crew was stranded.