Cruise ship Pacific Explorer makes second dramatic mayday rescue

A Kiwi cruise ship homeported out of Auckland has made a second mayday rescue in as many weeks.

The Pacific Explorer was involved in a mayday rescue overnight, en route from New Caledonia to Vanuatu.

The cruise ship responded to a distress call 10 hours north of Noumea, on Thursday night, as the closest ship in the area.

Passengers say they encountered a capsized small ship, with a single sailor on the hull.

Captain Alan Nixon announced last night, at around 8.45pm, that the Pacific Explorer had “altered course in a northwesterly direction and is responding to a mayday call received by the Noumea MRCC”.

Passengers were told that other ships were responding and that they would only resume course for Lifou if another vessel was better suited to respond.

Maritime law says the closest ship must respond in an emergency.

Operators Carnival Australia confirmed they were aware of the incident, saying “a man was rescued from his upturned vessel just before 7am”.

New Caledonia Marine Rescue Coordination Centre were contacted for comment. A French navy aircraft, a Dassault Falcon Guardian, was seen overheard, as part of the search and rescue coordinated out of New Caledonia.

The sole occupant was later named as Australian ocean rower Tom Robinson, 24, who was on a cross-Pacific record attempt.

This emergency response is the second attended by the Pacific-based cruise liner in as many weeks.

On Sunday, September 24, passengers sailing from Auckland were told that they were diverting to a distress signal of a New Zealand-registerd pleasure yacht, south of Fiji.

One crewmember of the 12-metre sailing ship the Second Life, 73-year-old Clive Nothling of Russell, was killed by the boom of the small vessel. Two other people were rescued by the Fijian Navy and crew of the Carnival Australia cruise liner.

Nothlings’ widow Robyn told the Herald she was “heartbroken”.

“He was a very special, strong man. He was known for being a very safe and competent sailor. This was a freak accident,” she said.

At the time the Pacific Explorer could only winch one of the three sailors to safety, due to rough conditions and fears for the yacht’s safety.

They remained with the yacht at a safe distance until the RFNS patrol boat Savenaca could attend the scene from Fiji.

Carnival thanked captain Nixon and the ship’s crew “for their immense efforts in very poor conditions, as well as our guests onboard for their understanding” following the rescue.

“This is the second time in two weeks Pacific Explorer has rendered assistance to a vessel in distress in the South Pacific, continuing our long-standing practice of assisting those in distress at sea.”

Pacific Explorer is currently on the return leg of a nine-day round-trip voyage from Auckland, carrying 2000 guests.