15 Apr 2017

Cargo ship to rescue round-the-world yachtie

9:21 am on 15 April 2017

A cargo ship is now in the vicinity of a yacht that got into trouble off the Chatham Islands two days ago.

Cargo ship

Photo: 123RF

A Polish man on a round-the-world voyage activated his emergency beacon on Thursday and a Defence Force Orion aircraft located him yesterday.

Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said the cargo ship will pick the 64-year-old up and then decide whether to leave the yacht drifting or sink it.