'Waimana' rescued 'Predator' [1]
Friday, April 29, 2011 - 17:46. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
A distressed yacht that was rescued in Ha'apai waters after sending out an emergency beacon on Tuesday morning was towed back to Nuku'alofa by the barge 'Waimana' and not by the TDS Voea Pangai, the police confirmed today.
Acting Police Commissioner Taniela Faletau, said the TDS Voea Pangai had also responded to the call, but he confirmed that it was actually the 'Waimana' that towed the yacht. "We will correct that information in our next police report on Tuesday," he said today.
Hughie Grant, a director of 21 South, a Marine and Salvage company that had hired the 'Waimana', said that the barge was on its way from Vava'u to Nuku'alofa when it was alerted by an RNZAF Hercules c-130 search aircraft at about 3:00am on April 26.
"They were a Fijian crew so they were a bit hesitant to go across that area of reefs. But when the Orion came back and dipped its wings our boys diverted," said Hughie. "They were already past Kelefesia but they turned and headed back up north. It was about 9 hours out of our way."
The 'Waimana' had been hired to support the HMNZS Cleveland working in Vava'u, was able to assist the yacht back to the safety of port in Nuku'alofa.