Minister for home affairs media release

Border Protection Command assists vessel - 4 June 2010

Vessels operating under the control ofBorder Protection Command have assisted a boat carrying 28 passengers and two crew, under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention. 

The boat was initially detected by a Customs and Border Protection Dash 8 aircraft, operating under the control of Border Protection Command.

ACV Storm Bay and HMAS Maryborough, both operating under the control of Border Protection Command, assisted the boat, which was outside Australia’s Contiguous Zone but within the Australian Search and Rescue region.

The boat was taking on water, its engine and pump were in poor disrepair and there was no food or water on board.  Passengers requested to be transferred off the boat for safety reasons. 

The passengers who were on board the boat are safe and indicated that they wished to come to Australia.

The two crew members initially refused assistancebut last night came on board ACV Triton.

The passengers and crew will be conveyed to Christmas Island.  They will undergo health, identity and security checks and their reasons for travel will be established.

The 2009/10 Budget funded a $654 million whole-of-government strategy to combat people smuggling and address the problem of unauthorised boat arrivals. In the 2010/11 Budget $1.2 million was announced to bolster Australia’s border security, including eight new border patrol vessels.

Media Adviser: Jayne Stinson 0458 547 512 or Customs and Border Protection Media: 02 6275 6793