Fishing boat Rochelle lost, says skipper

By TONY GEE

The fishing boat San Rochelle, abandoned by its three crew when it caught fire off Cape Reinga on Wednesday, is believed to have sunk.

"It looks like she's gone," owner-skipper John Alexander said in the Far North yesterday.

He had earlier held hopes for a possible salvage and tow operation if the boat could be found and the fire extinguished.

Mr Alexander and his two crewmen were airlifted unharmed from the San Rochelle's life raft late on Wednesday morning, more than five hours after leaving the burning vessel 185km northwest of Cape Reinga.

Auckland-based Westpac rescue helicopter crew carried out what was described by police and maritime authorities as a textbook rescue.

The San Rochelle, an 18m tuna boat valued at about $500,000, was last seen on fire and drifting, its steel plates glowing red hot after an engine-room fire got out of control at about 4am on Wednesday, when a Mayday call was sent.

Mr Alexander said another fishing boat, St Paul, searched an area later on Wednesday where his boat was last seen but found only floating fishing gear.

There was no sign of the burning boat and no smoke was seen in the area, he said.

A planned air search was called off soon afterwards.

Neither the Rescue Co-ordination Centre nor Far North Coastguard Radio had been told of any sightings of the San Rochelle, but a navigation hazard warning to vessels in the area was still current yesterday.

Mr Alexander was to meet insurance and marine assessors in Mangonui, where the St Paul was to land the San Rochelle's fishing gear.

The Maritime Safety Authority will conduct an investigation.

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