HMAS Paluma Rescue of FV On Strike
28 April 2010
As dawn broke on Monday 12th April 2010, HMAS Paluma was surveying the waters between the picturesque Lady Musgrave Island and Australia’s largest Marine Research Station on Heron Island. The previous month had been filled with cyclones and phenomenal seas, so the beautiful weather was a welcome change. The radio waves were filled with calls to harbours from pleasure craft and fishing vessels all putting to sea to take advantage of the glorious sunshine and flat seas.
As the sun sank slowly below the horizon that evening, the Officer of the Watch (OOW)remarked how eerie the feeling outside was. There was a sense of a change in the weather about to arrive, but with barely a ripple on the sea surface and not a puff of wind on his face, the current conditions belied what we knew was coming.
Volunteer Marine Radio (VMR) stations had began broadcasting a severe wind warning and likely storms for the following day but only a few hours after sunset, the change in the weather became apparent.
Around 2130 that evening, a sudden and violent squall hit, bringing wind gusts of 45kts and torrential rain. Even once the squall had passed, the wind remained in the vicinity of 35kts and a real chop picked up making it quite uncomfortable on the seas. It was not long after the squall hit that the ‘Mayday’ calls came through.
Two vessels which had been unprepared for the change on the weather had been flung up on to reefs, and with the outgoing tide, were stuck fast. Paluma was situated between the two vessels and listened intently to the conversations between the vessels and VMR Round Hill. It soon became apparent that one of the vessels, which had grounded a mere 15nm from the now infamous MV Shen Neng 1 would be able to be assisted by the water police vessel on stand-by for the Shen Neng – still aground herself on Douglas Shoal. With the seas as they were, the shore based water police were unable to come to the aid of FV On Strike, which was grounded on Hoskyn Reef (45nm east of Gladstone) and a mere two hours steaming from our position.
Hearing the panic in the master’s voice as he described his predicament to VMR and his concern for the two other crew members, both of them close mates, Paluma made towards the stricken vessel.
Arriving on site, we were met by the ship’s master who had managed to get in his dory to try and help when his boat had first grounded, however the ebbing tide had exposed too much reef for him to remain close to his vessel. He had been bobbing around in the strong winds, high seas and driving rain for over four hours prior to our arrival and was seriously concerned for his mates, who had lost communications and were stranded on the fishing vessel which was not only aground, but also being pounded by the growing surf. He also thought his vessel’s hull had been breached by the reef and water had ingressed to the engine room.
With no way of knowing how the two men left onboard were faring, and now with the knowledge the men were both in their late fifties, the decision whether to hope for the best and wait until morning, when the incoming tide had the potential to fill the possible hole in the hull, causing the boat to sink as the water level rose or mount a rescue attempt in the oppressive darkness and with the waves pounding the exposed reef was a difficult one.
Seeing the concern and stress for his mates clearly etched on the master’s face made up our minds. We would make the rescue attempt at low water when the reef was fully exposed; hopefully allowing the rescue team to walk over to the stricken vessel and escort its crew back to safety. At 0100K, the team suited up and made for the reef, under strict instructions that if there was any danger whatsoever to themselves, they would need to abort their mission and return to Paluma.
The team of four was led by LEUT Diplock (XO, HMAS Paluma) and aided by POHSM Walter, ABHSO Dyer and ABMT Millott. The master also transferred to the ship’s sea-boat to assist. With Paluma running a racetrack as close to the island as she dared, the team were soon lost in the gloom, their cyalume sticks and flashlights marking their progress.
Progress reports back to Paluma revealed the team was facing an arduous task. With the increased sea state, waves breaking on the edge of the reef would send a sheen of water across the reef, making it difficult for the team to see where they were placing the feet in the darkness. It soon became clear that even if they reached the stricken vessel, the two men onboard would most likely not have the physical capacity to make the return journey.
Somehow it became apparent the men on the fishing vessel could hear the VHF calls, but not respond. The team asked some simple questions which were answered by the men giving one or two flashes with a torch to indicate ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Through this method, the men revealed that their boat did not seem to have a hole as previously suspected and they were uninjured and able to last a few more hours until daylight and high tide. The rescue team and the master carefully picked their way back to the edge of the reef and returned to Paluma to wait for daybreak.
As dawn broke, the morning light revealed FV On Strike, to be bobbing on the waves over the reef, still held by her anchor. With 2m of tide now covering the reef and the benefit of daylight, the master was able to use his dory with the aid of Paluma crew members to reach his vessel and return the remaining two cold, wet and frightened men to Paluma.
With the tide still at its peak, FV On Strike was towed off the reef and anchored in deeper water to assess damage. It became quickly apparent the engines were still serviceable and indeed there was no structural damage however the steering was not operating.
The technical expertise of ABMT Millott soon had the vessel seaworthy once more. The three fishermen were so grateful to be safe and on their way; they tried offering what little fish they had managed to catch as a gift and could not believe we were happy to do all we had for free.
Their thanks and gratitude and the feeling of teamwork and accomplishment by the crew was thanks enough.
