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P&O’s Pacific Encounter rescues stranded sailors off New CaledoniaP&O’s Pacific Encounter rescues stranded sailors off New Caledonia

P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter received a mayday call off the coast of New Caledonia on Saturday and immediately diverted its voyage to assist in the rescue.

Helen Hutcheon, Australasia correspondent

May 8, 2024

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Two men and a woman were sailing from Queensland to Noumea when their yacht suffered a broken mast and loss of power.

Stranded for three days

The trio, from New Caledonia, were stranded at sea for three days before they were rescued by Pacific Encounter’s crew.

The company reported they were in good health after they were brought on board and assessed by the ship’s medical team.

Pacific Encounter, which is making a seven-day round ‘Pacific Island Hopper’ cruise from Brisbane with approximately 3,000 passengers, returns Friday. 

Read more about:

P&O Cruises Australia

About the Author

Helen Hutcheon

Australasia correspondent

Helen Hutcheon did her cadetship on a shipping magazine and worked in P&O’s Sydney office for seven years as a public relations journalist.

For 19 years she was deputy editor of Travel Week, which was Australia’s leading trade newspaper that covered major local and international industry events.

In 2008 the late legendary Rama Rebbapragada presented her with an award from Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd ‘in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the cruising industry.’

In 2010 she won the Neil Frazer Award for ‘outstanding contribution to the cruise industry,’ elevating her to CLIA Australasia’s hall of fame.

She has been the Australasia correspondent for Seatrade Cruise Review since 1997 and for Seatrade Insider (now Seatrade Cruise News) since its launch in 2000.

 

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