Trawler tragedy devastates firm

Forty-five crew survived in liferafts after the Oyang 70 sank in just 15 minutes. Photo / NZDF

The operator of a fishing ship is "shell-shocked" after three crew died and another three disappeared and are presumed dead in waters off New Zealand.

Christchurch-based Southern Storm Fishing says the 38-year-old Korean vessel Oyang 70, which sank in calm conditions 400 nautical miles east of Dunedin about 4.40am yesterday, was safe and fit to be at sea.

The cause of the tragedy remained a mystery last night.

Forty-five crew made it into liferafts as the ship sank in just 15 minutes and were rescued by a Talleys fishing vessel, the Amaltal Atlantis.

The bodies of three Indonesian crew of the Oyang 70, aged 38, 35 and 25, were recovered.

An Air Force P3 Orion and other vessels helped the Amaltal Atlantis in the search yesterday for three missing crewmen, including the ship's master.

Searchers say the chances of the three fishermen surviving freezing Southern Ocean waters are nil, and the search for them has been stood down.

Mike Roberts, mission co-ordinator at the Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Wellington, said he understood the men had not been wearing immersion suits, which meant their maximum survival time was around three hours in the 7C waters.

The survivors were reported to be doing well, although it was thought two were suffering mild hypothermia.

The Amaltal Atlantis, with its own crew of 40, is expected to reach Christchurch tomorrow.

"We don't have 85 bunks on board so it will be a little cramped," said Talleys deep sea chief executive Tony Hazlett.

The 82m-long Oyang 70 is owned by Korean company Sajo Oyang Corporation and crewed by Koreans, Indonesians and Filipinos, but is chartered by Southern Storm Fishing.

Hyun Gwan Choi, a Southern Storm director, was too upset to talk to the Herald. But his spokeswoman, Michele Chapman, said he was deeply saddened by what had happened.

The Oyang 70 was seaworthy and had all the necessary safety certifications, she said.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand said initial reports that the vessel had capsized in good weather were "extremely disturbing". The union would offer its help to establish why it sank, said general secretary Joe Fleetwood.

Mr Choi was yesterday seeking to establish who the dead crew were, in order to be able to make contact with their families. The Indonesian Embassy was also involved.

Mr Hazlett said the Amaltal Atlantis responded quickly after it received a mayday call at 4.28am, but the Oyang 70 sank very quickly.

"We do need to get [the survivors] back. It's a pretty stressful situation they have been through."