TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Missing Indonesian fishermen safe after capsizing in Pacific

  (Agence France-Presse)
Koror, Palau
Thu, November 23, 2017

Share This Article

Change Size

 Missing Indonesian fishermen safe after capsizing in Pacific A patrol vessel of the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry moors at a fishing port in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Indonesia has stepped up efforts to stop illegal fishing at home, but its five fishermen were caught on the Australian waters last month on poaching allegations. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)

T

he crew of a Japanese trawler found capsized in remote Pacific waters have been located safe and well in the Philippines, the US Coast Guard said Thursday.

The abandoned Gyotoku Maru No.1 was found drifting 350 kilometres (220 miles) southwest of Palau on Monday after it send an SOS message.

With no word on the fate of the seven-man crew -- five Indonesians and two Japanese -- a major international search effort was launched.

The coast guard said it turned out the trawler had collided with another fishing vessel, which then rescued the stricken sailors and took them to the Philippines.

"We're incredibly relieved these men are safe and back on dry land," search coordinator Lieutenant Commander Josh Empen said.

Empen thanked those involved in the search, which included vessels from Japan and Palau, as well as US ships and planes based in Guam.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.