COPENHAGEN, June 22 (Reuters) – Eight Danes whose sailboat capsized in the Pacific Ocean following a collision with one or two whales were rescued overnight, the Danish Armed Forces said in a statement on Thursday.
After abandoning the sailboat, the crew took refuge on a raft and called for help via a satellite phone, prompting a search and rescue mission by the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The initial satellite call was made by a female crew member to her father in Denmark, who contacted Danish rescue authorities before the case was transferred to JRCC Honolulu.
They were later found by a fishing vessel and eventually transferred to a container ship which is now headed for Tahiti, the Danish Armed Forces said.
Information from the crew indicated that the 51-foot long sailboat had collided with one or two whales, the military said.
Reporting by Louise Breusch Rasmussen, editing by Terje Solsvik and Emelia Sithole-Matarise.
UPDATE: June 21, 2023
RCC Alameda and JRCC Honolulu confirm an AMVER vessel is willing and able to assist MRCC Peru. The approximate position is 2000nm North east of Tahiti.
The crew was rescued and all are well.
Broadcast Version For Maritime Mobile Service Network and Other Networks
SV LULU Crew in Liferaft After Hitting Whale South Pacific
RCC Honolulu advised SV LULU with a crew of eight persons has sunk after hitting a whale and the crew is in a liferaft.
EIGHT PERSONS ABANDONED
SHIP IN LIFERAFT IN:
05-19.60S 117-57.10W.
VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP
A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE.
REPORTS TO JRCC HONOLULU,
PHONE: 808 535 3333
210526Z JUN 23
HYDROPAC 2048/23(22).
EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
VESSEL SANK, EIGHT PERSONS ABANDONED
SHIP IN LIFERAFT IN 05-19.60S 117-57.10W.
VESSELS IN VICINITY REQUESTED TO KEEP
A SHARP LOOKOUT, ASSIST IF POSSIBLE.
REPORTS TO JRCC HONOLULU,
PHONE: 808 535 3333, FAX: 808 535 3338,
E-MAIL: JRCCHONOLULU@USCG.MIL.//
