7 February 2014
MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE INVERCARGILL POLICE
At approximately 3:15 am this morning the 13.4metre fishing vessel 'Ayson' struck rocks and later sunk near Sterling Point, at the entrance to Bluff harbour, while returning from fishing.
The skipper and two crew members made a call on the marine radio and activated an EPIRB before boarding the vessels life raft.
Bluff Coastguard vessel 'NZAS Rescue' and the South Port NZ vessel 'Takitimu' responded to the emergency.
The three were uplifted by the Coastguard and returned to Bluff while the 'Takitimu' recovered some flotsam from the 'Ayson'.
Sergeant Ian Martin