Canterbury Police have received confirmation that Royal New Zealand Navy resources will be used as part of the SAR recovery phase.
Inspector Craig McKay says “The Royal New Zealand Navy’s Diving Support Vessel HMNZS MANAWANUI will depart Devonport Naval Base tomorrow and make its way south to Canterbury where it will be met by members of their Operational Dive Team and the NZ Police Dive Squad when she arrives at the end of the week. At this stage the intention is to deploy the Navy’s Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) to confirm the identity and orientation of the item of interest located in 40m of water near to the last known position of the F.V. Jubilee.”
No further details of the recovery phase will be released at this time.
Police understand that the three crew believed to have been on board the F.V. Jubilee on Sunday morning were 47 year old Jared Reese Husband, 35 year old Paul Russell Bennett and 55 year old Terry Donald Booth. Their families are being supported by Police, Victim Support, the crew’s employer and their respective friends and family.
A Canterbury Police investigation is ongoing and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission has also opened an inquiry into the sinking of the F.V. Jubilee.
Media note: A media standup will be held outside Christchurch Central Police Station at 1.45pm where Inspector McKay will verbalise this release. Due to operational commitments Inspector McKay is not available to undertake any other interviews outside this time.
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police