Epic 54-hour rescue wins marine safety watchdog’s praise

The commendation was given to NSW Police Marine Area Command Sergeant Tony Hogg, Senior Constable Matthew Gray, and Senior Constable Nicholas Leach after an estimated 12-hour rescue mission became an epic 54-hour trial as conditions deteriorated.

The rescue effort kicked off in early November last year after the Energy Matters Solar Coaster, a 12-metre sloop, was dismasted about 100 nautical miles west of Lord Howe Island and its crew issued a mayday call.

The boat was caught in big swell and strong currents, and its engine was struggling to make way in the conditions.

An AMSA search and rescue aircraft was able to drop fuel, radio and supplies to the stricken vessel and an attempt to rescue the three crew members aged in their 60s was abandoned after a sailboat that came to their aid was damaged in rough seas by the dislodged mast.

The crew was becoming fatigued and running low on food and water.

The decision was then made to send the police launch from Port Stephens more than 200 nautical miles east to meet up with the stricken sailboat and tow it back through treacherous and tricky five-metre seas.

AMSA National Search and Rescue Council secretariat Mark Morrow said the Port Stephens Marine Area Command officers had conducted the operation in extreme conditions and saved the lives of the three men.

“All three crew performed their duties as police officers and mariners with extreme professionalism and courage under adverse ocean conditions and I consider them to be an exemplary example of outstanding contribution to search and rescue’ in Australia,” Morrow said.

Port Stephens Water Police Sergeant Tony Hogg said the Energy Matters Solar Coaster recovery was one of the most challenging rescues of his career.

"The sea conditions were very ordinary to say the least, we were getting continually battered on our starboard side for about 50 of the 54 hours we were at sea, but the professionalism and training of my team allowed for a successful outcome," Sgt Hogg said.

"Being an officer attached to the Marine Area Command has provided me with some challenging and truly unique experiences, which I would otherwise never have had the opportunity to be involved in.

“The satisfaction you get out of a rescue of this nature is very hard to explain, but we are extremely grateful we were able to successfully rescue these three men and reunite them with their families,” he said.

A separate award was given to the crew of a Marshall Islands-registered tanker who spotted two men clinging to a plank of wood in the waters almost halfway between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The tanker’s crew was able to pluck one of the men from the water before the other was airlifted by AMSA’s search and rescue helicopter.