Rio Madeira loses power and drifts off Narooma, NSW coast as rescue boats are deployed
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Major rescue mission underway for large cargo ship floating without power off Australian coast with 10,000 containers
- Ships deployed to rescue a freighter sailing off the NSW coast at Narooma. drifts
- The 286-meter-long Rio Madeira lost power about 80 km off the coast on Friday evening
- Lifeboats of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority have been deployed
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A rescue mission is underway to rescue a cargo ship drifting at sea with some 10,000 containers on board.
The carrier lost power on Thursday evening about 80 km off the coast of Narooma, NSW.
Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) lifeboats from Newcastle and Sydney have been deployed to rescue the 286m long Rio Madeira.
A rescue mission is underway to save the Rio Madeira, a cargo ship drifting at sea with 10,000 containers on board
It is clear that the carrier lost power on Thursday evening, about 50 miles off the coast of Narooma, NSW
An AMSA spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the Singapore container is not in any ‘imminent danger’ from hitting the coast.
AMSA has commissioned a specialist emergency tow vessel, ETV Svitzer Glenrock, from Newcastle to assist in providing tow assistance to the MV Rio Madeira, the spokesman said.
‘There is an emergency power generator on board and the crew is working on a solution to the main power problem.
“The ship and crew are not in immediate danger of hitting the shore.
‘AMSA keeps a close eye on the ship and receives regular reports from the shipping company.’
The emergency vessel from Newcastle will arrive at the Rio Madeira on Saturday afternoon and will help tow the vessel.
The Rio Madeira is larger than the Portland Bay carrier that drifted away from Port Botany earlier this year.
Craig Gibson, who was one of three aboard during the Portland Bay carrier rescue in July, tweeted his support for the latest rescue mission, posting ‘Go and save another team!!’
There would be 27 crew members on board the ship.