Passengers aboard a Waiheke Island ferry were rescued safely on Thursday after the vessel caught fire in the Hauraki Gulf, off Auckland.
Police confirmed they received notification of the incident at around 4pm and dispatched three rescue boats to the scene. All passengers were evacuated without injury.
Bruce Cameron, who was on a boat nearby Motutapu Island, said he picked up a Mayday call on VHF radio at approximately 3.50pm reporting a vessel in difficulty. He could see the stricken ferry sitting roughly 1.5 miles from his position, and confirmed reports that it was on fire.
A Fullers Ferry had turned back to assist, Cameron said, but the considerable height difference between the two vessels, combined with rough sea conditions, made it impossible to transfer passengers safely between them.
A Coastguard NZ spokesperson confirmed that the Maritime Operations Centre, which monitors channel 16 on the VHF, was alerted at around 3.40pm. Early information indicated the ferry had 18 passengers and six crew members on board. Coastguard Howick and police boats transported Fire and Emergency personnel out to the scene.
