Update Navy Clearance Divers in Tonga

12 August 2009

Sixteen Royal Australian Navy Clearance Divers, deployed to Tonga to assist in the recovery of human remains from the MV Princess Ashika, are continuing to support search operations in the area where the ferry was reported to have sunk.

The ADF contingent arrived in Tonga on Saturday morning and has commenced operations in support of the Tongan Defence Service with their Anzac partners from New Zealand's Operational Dive Team.

A number of reconnaissance missions on aboard the Tongan patrol boat VOEA Pangai have been launched, but weather conditions in the region remain difficult and are expected to cause some delay to dive operations in the coming days.

The New Zealand Navy's dive ship, HMNZS Manawanui, sailed from Auckland on Saturday and is due on site later this week. This will provide an increased search and diving capability to the operation.

OP Ashika Assist is the ADF contribution to the recovery of any human remains on board the MV Princess Ashika, which sank off the island of Ha'afeva on 5 August 2009.

Imagery is available at the Defence Image Gallery