P&O Australia's ship Pacific Explorer, which departed from Auckland NZ on Friday, encountered a distress call from a New Zealand-flagged sailing yacht with a broken mast, necessitating a course diversion.
Tragically, one life was lost during this incident on Monday, September 25th, as confirmed by Maritime New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre.
Amid the challenging circumstances, Pacific Explorer's crew, under the leadership of Captain Alan Nixon, displayed exceptional dedication and courage. They successfully rescued one survivor from the sea, subsequently providing urgent medical attention on the cruise ship.
The Fijian Navy vessel Savenaca also played a vital role in the rescue operation by retrieving another survivor.
A video circulated on social media depicted the small yacht struggling in rough seas alongside the much larger Pacific Explorer, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Carnival Australia expressed its gratitude and admiration for its crew and Captain Alan Nixon, acknowledging their remarkable courage and determination in the face of adversity. P&O Australia also extended appreciation to the guests on board for their understanding and cooperation during this unforeseen emergency.
Due to the persistently adverse weather conditions, it was deemed unsafe to proceed with the rescue of the remaining crew from the yacht. Nevertheless, the Pacific Explorer maintained communication with those aboard the distressed vessel throughout the evening, ensuring they were not left unattended during this critical time.
The New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre confirmed that one of the yacht's crew members received necessary medical assistance while safely on board the Pacific Explorer. However, considering the challenging conditions and the significant size difference between the vessels, further rescue attempts for the remaining individuals on the yacht were deemed unfeasible.
The Royal Fijian Navy (RFN) released the Pacific Explorer from observation duties at ~4 pm, allowing the ship to resume the voyage toward Port Denarau/Nadi Fiji. Passengers were promptly informed of any required itinerary adjustments.
For more Pacific Explorer incidents and accidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.