Customs and Border Protection Media Release

Christmas Island Chronology - 16 December 2010

The following is a timeline of events as they occurred on Christmas Island on 15 December 2010.

• At approximately 9:48 am (AEDST), 5:48 am local time, on Wednesday 15 December, Border Protection Command was notified that a vessel had been sighted approximately 200 metres from Rocky Point, Christmas Island.

• At approximately 10:00 am (AEDST), 6:00 am local time, HMAS Pirie was tasked to respond to the sighting.

• At approximately 10:31 am (AEDST), 6:31 am local time, Australian Federal Police officers on Christmas Island reported sighting the vessel being washed onto the shoreline at Rocky Point, causing the people onboard to be thrown into the water. The geography of Rocky Point made it extremely difficult for assistance to be rendered from the shoreline. Customs and Border Protection officers and members of the community on the scene threw life jackets to people in the water.

• At approximately 10:35 am (AEDST), 6:35 am local time, HMAS Pirie requested the assistance of ACV Triton to respond. ACV Triton immediately responded and commenced passage to the scene.

• The tender from HMAS Pirie arrived on the scene at approximately 11:01 am (AEDST), 7:01 am local time, and commenced rescue operations.

• A tender from ACV Triton arrived on the scene at approximately 11:22 am (AEDST), 7.22 am local time, to provide further assistance with the rescue effort.

• By end of search and rescue operations at last light on Wednesday 15 December, we were advised that 42 survivors and 28 deceased had been accounted for.

• The number can be expected to change.

• The search and rescue operation resumed at first local light.

Media enquiries:
Contact Customs and Border Protection Media (02) 6275 6793