Canterbury Police are continuing to work closely with other agencies including the Royal New Zealand Navy on the SAR recovery phase.
The Royal New Zealand Navy have confirmed that the HMNZS MANAWANUI has crossed the Bay of Plenty and is making its way down the East Coast of the North Island. If severe weather doesn’t delay their progress they should arrive in Canterbury sometime on Saturday afternoon. (24 October 2015). Nine members of the Operational Dive Team will meet the MANAWANUI when she arrives.
Inspector Craig McKay says that the Canterbury SAR team and other agencies have made considerable progress in planning for the recovery phase this week. “Everyone involved in the operation is disappointed that the mechanical problem and subsequent weather conditions have prevented the deployment of the SAR team and NZ Police Dive Squad to identify the item of interest located near the last known point of the F.V. Jubilee.”
“No divers will be deployed until the identity of the item of interest has been confirmed. A Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) will be used in conjunction with the NZ Police Dive Squad’s radial sonar to identify and obtain valuable information required to inform the next stage of the operation. Due to the depth of water Police divers would not be able to deploy to the seafloor where the item of interest is located.”
The complex planning process is ongoing and no further details will be released until the HMNZS MANAWANUI has arrived in Canterbury.
A Canterbury Police investigation is continuing and the Transport Accident Investigation Commission are also making inquiries into the sinking of the F.V. Jubilee.
“Our thoughts are with the families, friends, colleagues and communities of the three crew who have been missing since the F.V. Jubilee was lost on Sunday morning (18 October 2015). We would like to reassure everyone that Police and the other agencies involved in the SAR operation are committed to identifying the item of interest but the safety of those involved in the SAR recovery operation is paramount. The focus of the recovery phase is on confirming the identity of the item of interest and, if possible, locating the missing men and returning them to their families” explained Inspector McKay.
“There are a lot of unknowns at this stage and until we have eyes on the seafloor we cannot speculate on the form the recovery phase will take”
Canterbury Police, Victim Support and the crews employer are supporting their families at this extremely distressing time.
Media note: An audio clip of Inspector McKay verbalising this release is available by texting the Canterbury Police District Communications Manager. Unfortunately due to operational commitments Inspector McKay is not available for any interviews.
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police
