An underwater search team has this morning, August 12, located what appears to be the sunken vessel Princess Ashika, lying upright in 110 metres of water, at the position indicated by the emergency beacon and final radio call, 11 nautical miles south southwest of Nomuka in the Ha'apai Group.

"It is important to realize that nobody onboard could still be alive," Tonga Police Commander Chris Kelley said, in announcing the find at a 4:00 pm press conference today.

The vessel is too deep for the New Zealand and Australian navies to conduct recovery operations.

Sonar detection

He said that at about 11 am today, a combined Tonga, Australia, New Zealand Naval Dive and Underwater Search Team, operating from the Tonga Defence Service Voea Pangai, using the REMUS sonar system had detected a vessel, "which fits the general size and shape of the missing ship."

"The position identified by the REMUS system coincides with the positions given by both the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon and by the Master in his final radio call.

"The position is also corroborated by the presence of an oil slick, various debris and a mooring line.

"One of the two bodies was also found [earlier] at this location," said Cmdr Kelley.

He said that also the onsite team had not visually confirmed the identity of the vessel, "but we have a high level of confidence it is the Princess Ashika," he said.

In deteriorating weather conditions, the combined Navy Team have suspended operations, and bad weather is forecast throughout the next few days.

Identification images

Cmdr Kelley said that the HMNZS Manawanui is due to arrive in Nuku'alofa on Saturday morning and will support the naval team in conducting further reconnaissance operations on the Princess Ashika, using a remotely operated vehicle to take images and ascertain the identity of the vessel.

"It is important to understand that neither the New Zealand or Australian navies have the capability to conduct recovery operations beyond 60 meters."

Mapping

"Our next step is to use HMNZS Manawanui with the ROV to explore the wreck site and map the debris field around the vessel.

"The weather condition on the site do not allow the navy team to deploy the ROV vehicle until we have very suitable very calm conditions," he said.

Exclusion zone

Cmdr Kelly emphasized that there is an exclusion zone in place. "No members of the public can travel to the area without authority from the Police Commander."