Doubtful Sound - Missing Fishing Vessel

Police Search and Rescue Continues into Missing Fishing Vessel

This morning at approximately 9.30 am Police were notified via a local fishing vessel in Doubtful Sound that the K'Cee, a 30 foot aluminium crayboat fishing at Doubtful Sound, was reported overdue.  The last radio report from the K'Cee was received at 8.15 am yesterday.

Inspector Lane TODD, Area Commander, Southland said "Police have confirmed the wreckage located south of Rocky Point on Secretary Island has been identified as coming from the missing fishing vessel K'Cee".

"The search operation has continued and an Air Force Orion is scheduled to arrive at the search site at 7 pm this evening to assist.  The search assets include three helicopters, four local vessels, and a DOC support vessel which continue to be deployed in the search area", Inspector TODD said.

The Incident Management Team is scheduled to have a briefing later this evening to assess the scale of the search through the night.

Police confirm that the two persons on board the missing vessel are the skipper Bruce Robert GORDON, aged 42 years, crew member Darren James ALLEN, aged 37 years, both of Te Anau.

Any further media enquiries to Inspector Lane TODD cell:  027 2305034

Further media release will follow at 9 am Wednesday 2 May 2012