Swift response saves lives after Pacific mayday call
Three sailors drifting in a life raft north of New Zealand have been rescued thanks to the quick coordination of Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) and the sharp eyes of an RNZAF P-8A Poseidon crew.
The dramatic rescue unfolded late on Thursday, 18 July 2025, after a 10-metre launch bound for Tonga issued a mayday call around 2.30pm. The vessel, south of the Kermadec Islands, had suffered serious mechanical issues and began listing, forcing its crew to abandon ship.
RCCNZ quickly activated emergency protocols and called in support from the New Zealand Defence Force. A No. 5 Squadron Poseidon crew was scrambled and reached the scene within hours. Just five minutes into the search, they located the crew floating in a life raft near their partially submerged vessel, approximately 350 nautical miles north of mainland New Zealand.
“The RNZAF maintains aircraft and crews at short notice 24/7,” said Air Commodore Andy Scott, Air Component Commander. “Once the call from RCCNZ was made, we had an aircraft airborne in short order. Using sensors and a simple visual lookout, the crew located the raft and remained overhead until help arrived.”
That help came in the form of a merchant oil tanker, which had responded to a mayday broadcast by the Maritime Operations Centre. Guided by the Poseidon, the tanker safely retrieved the sailors while the aircraft provided overwatch during the transfer.
Photos taken by the Poseidon crew show the sailors boarding the merchant ship—a relief after what could have become a life-threatening ordeal.
Air Commodore Scott praised all involved:
“This was an excellent demonstration of teamwork... from the preparedness of the sailors, the coordination at RCCNZ, the RNZAF crew, and the support from the merchant vessel. I take my hat off to all involved.”
RCCNZ: “A high-stakes rescue”
RCCNZ Search and Rescue Officer Taylor Monaghan said this mission was particularly complex due to the vessel’s remote location.
“Once we received the coordinates from their emergency beacon, we knew they were a long way from help,” he said. “Thankfully, their preparation—including grab bags, lifejackets and emergency supplies—made all the difference.”
The sailors’ mayday was picked up by the tanker thanks to the widespread broadcast made to vessels within a 200 nautical mile radius.
Second rescue for RNZAF Poseidon in weeks
The mission marks the second successful rescue in recent weeks for the RNZAF P-8A Poseidon fleet. Earlier in July, a crew from No. 5 Squadron located a lone Kiribati fisherman adrift in a five-metre aluminium skiff.
In that case, the Poseidon located the stranded vessel soon after launch and coordinated a successful recovery with a nearby ship.
New P-8A fleet adding value in marine rescue
New Zealand’s new fleet of P-8A Poseidons has quickly proven their worth in long-range maritime surveillance and emergency response. Designed for wide-area search and patrol, they are increasingly the first line of help for those in distress far from shore.
