New Spirit of Tasmania ferry helps save 7 people in high-stakes water rescue
Seven people, including children, were rescued after boat capsized in Corio Bay.
One of the new Spirit of Tasmania ferries has helped in a dramatic sea rescue.
Two children were among seven people the ferry helped rescue off Geelong, Victoria on Sunday night, February 15.
Spirit of Tasmania IV deployed lifeboats after the smaller vessel capsized in Corio Bay.
The Coast Guard also sent rescue boats.
Victoria Police said the seven people from the capsized boat were rescued safely.
"Victoria Police contacted the Spirit of Tasmania IV master at about 8.30pm last night to advise that a vessel in the vicinity of the ship was sinking," the chief executive of state-owned ferry company TT-Line, Chris Carbone, said on February 16.
"The sinking craft was quickly spotted about 800 metres from the Spirit.
"Our crew launched the rescue boat to find five adults and two children in the water.
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"Given the number of people in the water who required assistance, the crew then launched a second boat to assist."
Mr Carbone said the people were pulled from the water, transferred to a Coast Guard vessel, taken to shore and then to a Geelong hospital.
"All crew involved in the rescue did an outstanding job when called upon to save the lives of the seven people in difficulty," he said.
"We are very pleased to reflect on a job well done by our team."
Spirit IV is being kept in Geelong and is expected to start its Bass Strait crossings late this year.
The Advocate Newspaper, Tasmania. Business, economics, politics, crime.
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