KEY POINTS:
Three people on board a sinking fishing boat are safe after deliberately beaching the vessel off the Northland coast early today.
The drama began when the 13m Mana Rose started taking on water after running into rocks near the Cavelli Islands in Northland.
The Rescue Coordination Centre of NZ (RCCNZ) received a mayday call at 2.45am from the skipper saying he had decided to try to beach the vessel before it sank.
RCCNZ mission controller, Keith Allen said a rescue helicopter was sent from Whangarei to assist and, if necessary, winch the crew to safety.
"However, at 3.30am we received a further call from the skipper...to say that the vessel had been successfully grounded 100m offshore near the Takou River mouth in Takou Bay.
"The three crew then made their way to shore in the vessel's liferaft."
Mr Allen said all crew were safe and well and being taken back to Opua in the Bay of Islands by the rescue helicopter."
- NZPA
