Far Sirius to the Rescue

Far Sirius to the RescueSeven Indonesian seafarers caught a lucky break after being rescued by Norwegian flagged, Australian-crewed vessel the Far Sirius last Thursday, September 4. The seven Indonesian crew had spent more than 10 hours in the Java Sea after their ship had sunk the night before, according to the Maritime Union of Australia’s (MUA) delegate Jimbo Williams.


On the morning Thursday, September 4, the Far Sirius was on her maiden voyage to Australia from Singapore.

The crew on board the Farstad vessel were alerted by another ship that an upturned vessel had been spotted approximately 50 nautical miles northwest off the Indonesian Island of Madura.

While the Far Sirius made a bee line to the location, the crew readied the Fast Rescue Craft (FRC).

Shortly after they launched the lifeboat after spotting a person floating on a piece of debris some way from the wreck.

Jimbo Williams, and MUA member Lincoln McDowall, along with engineer Daniel Thomas searched the area to find a single person floating on a foam mat.

Far Sirius to the Rescue“We pulled him onboard asked him how many people were on his boat, he responded by holding up seven fingers,” Williams said.

“The rescued crew had very little English which made things difficult.

“We asked him if he knew where his ship mates were which he pointed in the direction he thought they might be.

“Searching the area we finally came across six seafarers floating in the water clinging to life on some more foam mats.”

One of the men needed treating for shock and hypothermia immediately aboard the rescue craft. The men had been in the water since approximately 11.30pm the night before after being swamped by a wave.

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Press Release; September 08, 2014