The crew members of the Royal New Zealand Navy’s Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea helped a stricken Fijian fishing boat while conducting patrols yesterday.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Brock West, says a boarding team was patrolling near Musket Cove, when they spotted two boats at anchor and roped together.
He says the team conducted an inspection and found that one of the boats engine had broken down just after midnight yesterday.
Lieutenant West says the engine was fixed by Petty Officer Marine Technician, Chevy Rangitakatu.
The fishermen returned safely to port under their own steam after being stranded at sea for more than 10 hours.
Meanwhile the NZ Hawea was sent to Fiji in April to help patrol the South West Pacific country’s territorial water and Exclusive Economic Zone.
The ship has completed 12 combined fisheries and customs patrols so far.
About 530 vessels have been inspected and 101 infringements detected during these patrols.
