Canterbury Police SAR have taken advantage of improving weather today (24 October 2015) to deploy a team to identify the item of interest located near the last known position of the FV Jubilee of the Canterbury coast.
Sergeant Phil Simmonds says the team consisted of three members of the NZ Police Dive Squad and their radial sonar; four members of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Operational Diving Team (ODT) and their Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV); and representatives from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC).
“In order to take advantage of an improvement in the weather off-shore a commercial vessel was hired to take the team to site this morning. The Royal New Zealand Navy’s ROV was deployed and visually confirmed the item of interest was that of the FV Jubilee.”
“The team surveyed the vessel using the ROV and the surrounding seabed was surveyed using the radial sonar”
“The team saw, what is believed to be, one deceased inside the FV Jubilee during the ROV survey. Police are in close contact with the next of kin of all the crew who were understood to have been on the FV Jubilee at the time of the incident. The person seen on the ROV footage has not yet been recovered or identified and Police will not speculate on which of the three crew it may be.”
The death has been referred to the Coroner.
Police remain in close contact with the families of the missing crew and their employer, providing them with regular ‘confidential’ updates on the progress of the SAR recovery phase prior to any updates being made to media and the public. The families of the men are being supported by Canterbury Police and Victim Support
“The safety of those involved in the recovery phase is paramount. As the wreck of the FV Jubilee is located in 40m of water it will be necessary for the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Operational Diving Team to complete a number of build-up dives before attempting to enter the wreck of the FV Jubilee” explained Sergeant Simmonds.
“This stage will be conducted from the HMNZS MANAWANUI which has an onboard recompression chamber and surface supply dive capability. Members of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s ODT, NZ Police Dive Squad and TAIC will join the crew of HMNZS MANAWANUI later on this evening” explained Sergeant Simmonds.
“The Diving support vessel HMNZS MANAWANUI arrived in Akaroa early on Saturday morning. Both the ODT and HMNZS MANAWANUI are here to support the Police in their search and recovery operation,” said Lieutenant Commander Greg Camburn, Commanding Officer of the ODT.
The intention of the underwater SAR recovery phase is, if possible, to locate and return the missing men to their families.
TAIC have an ongoing inquiry into the sinking of the FV Jubilee and a Police investigation is continuing.
The thoughts of everyone involved in the SAR operation are with the family, friends and employer of the missing men.
No further information will be provided on the recovery phase until after the ODT have completed their build-up dives which, weather permitting, will take a couple of days.
The next media update is not likely to occur until Monday afternoon at the earliest.
Media note: An audio file of Sergeant Simmonds verbalising this release is available by texting the Canterbury District Communications Manager on 021 942 404. If you require an on-camera comment please text 021 942 404 and we will endeavour to accommodate your request. Unfortunately due to operational commitments Sergeant Simmonds is not available for any other interviews.
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police
