A GME MT600G EPIRB was used in the rescue of eight people after their vessel sank off Gladstone on the 17th of September, 2020.
Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Australia reported the detection of an emergency beacon registered to an 8m Cougar Catamaran 36NM North East of Gladstone, QLD. JRCC Australia tasked the Challenger Rescue 440 plane in addition to rescue helicopter Rescue 300, water police vessel TW Rembeck and a nearby bulk carrier to assist.
The rescue helicopter, Rescue 300, and the bulk carrier arrived on scene first and discovered the catamaran had sunk and the passengers had disembarked. 5 people had abandoned ship into the vessel’s small dinghy and the remaining 3 were in the water holding on to the dinghy.
The passengers were all recovered by the bulk carrier where a medical assessment was conducted by the Rescue 300 crew before they were transferred to the water police vessel, TW Rembeck, for transportation back to Yeppoon.
This serves to remind us how important it is to carry PLBs and EPIRBs and ensure that their registration details are up to date before heading out to sea.
For more information on our range of emergency beacons click here.