Post by Supernatural Empress on Dec 20, 2005 1:14:59 GMT -5
Tuesday 14 January 2003, 14:06PM
Australian police are seeking the Taiwanese owners of an Indonesian-flagged ghost ship in a bid to discover why it was found drifting off the northern West Australian coast with tonnes of fish aboard but no crew.
Taiwanese-registered long-line fishing vessel High Aim 6 is docked at Broome while international authorities attempt to solve the mystery of the vanished crew, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokeswoman said.
"It's certainly puzzled everyone," the spokeswoman said.
"The ship would require a crew of up to 12, it is in really good condition, and weather conditions in the area have been good since the vessel was first spotted."
A coasthingych flight detected the 20-metre vessel, which was flying an Indonesian flag, travelling north of Rowley Shoals off the coast of Broome, 2,357km north of Perth, on January 4.
"But on the 8th the navy (HMAS Stuart) intercepted it because it was no longer on a proper course," she said.
"They found no crew or passengers on board but there was a catch of rotting mackerel in the hold."
No lifeboats were found on board and there was nothing to indicate what nationalities the crew may have been.
The High Aim 6 was towed to Broome last Friday after a Search and Rescue operation scanned 7,300 square nautical miles but failed to find any trace of the missing fishermen.
Customs and fisheries have inspected the vessel but did not find signs of anything untoward, she said.
Australian police are seeking the Taiwanese owners of an Indonesian-flagged ghost ship in a bid to discover why it was found drifting off the northern West Australian coast with tonnes of fish aboard but no crew.
Taiwanese-registered long-line fishing vessel High Aim 6 is docked at Broome while international authorities attempt to solve the mystery of the vanished crew, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokeswoman said.
"It's certainly puzzled everyone," the spokeswoman said.
"The ship would require a crew of up to 12, it is in really good condition, and weather conditions in the area have been good since the vessel was first spotted."
A coasthingych flight detected the 20-metre vessel, which was flying an Indonesian flag, travelling north of Rowley Shoals off the coast of Broome, 2,357km north of Perth, on January 4.
"But on the 8th the navy (HMAS Stuart) intercepted it because it was no longer on a proper course," she said.
"They found no crew or passengers on board but there was a catch of rotting mackerel in the hold."
No lifeboats were found on board and there was nothing to indicate what nationalities the crew may have been.
The High Aim 6 was towed to Broome last Friday after a Search and Rescue operation scanned 7,300 square nautical miles but failed to find any trace of the missing fishermen.
Customs and fisheries have inspected the vessel but did not find signs of anything untoward, she said.
