A rescue operation in the Indian Ocean off the Seychelles Islands has failed to find any sign of an Australian couple who are missing after their catamaran sank in rough seas.

Published 4 years ago

The worldwide search assistance website Boatwatch.org has reported that the family of Queensland couple Del and Craig McEwan advised on July 24, 2020 that the search for the couple had been called off.

Del and Craig, long-term liveaboards, were onboard their Lagoon 440 catamaran ‘Ohana Uli’ on passage from Tanzania to Seychelles.

Approximately 200 – 250 miles off the coast of Tanzania, their boat began to sink after encountering stormy seas on or about July 18/19, 2020.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority issued a statement saying a rescue attempt was unsuccessful by a tanker which was despatched to the scene after the couple set off their EPIRB.

“AMSA identified and contacted the closest and only available merchant ship, the tanker Atlantic Lily. The Atlantic Lily diverted to the location,” it said.

“Upon arrival on scene the next morning, the ship’s crew encountered extremely challenging conditions, including rough seas and strong winds in darkness and attempts to recover the survivors were unsuccessful.”

Australian news organisation, the ABC, reported that dangerous conditions hindered the search and it was unclear whether or not the couple successfully boarded a life raft while waiting to be rescued by the Seychelles Coast Guard.

The couple had been travelling the African coast and were planning on returning to Australia.

More information is available on the following links.

• Boatwatch.org – Search called off for SV Ohana Uli
• ABC – Rescue operation fails to find missing couple

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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.

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