At approximately 12:00 pm today Police Marine and Fisheries Enforcement Section (MFES) members received reports that a fisheries research vessel, the John Hickman, carrying four research personnel, failed to make scheduled radio contact.

It is believed that the party were conducting research activities on the Western side of Bathurst Island.

The MFES coordinated the search for the vessel and its crew with assistance from Garden Point and Nguiu Police.

An aerial search utilizing the Aero-Rescue Dornier and the Careflight Helicopter was coordinated with the assistance of AusSAR.

At 4:00 pm today the vessel was located by the Careflight Helicopter alongside Port Hurd on Bathurst Island.

The crew were located in good health and the vessel in good condition.

Police would like to thank all agencies involved in the search and have stated that the search highlighted the effective inter-operability of all the agencies involved.


Media contact:
Amy Sloan
8922 3365