Missing boat

Two boat loads of people left Gizo for the Shortland Islands on 1 January, with one vessel drifting near Moli where it was found on 2 January. The other, carrying 14 people, failed to reach its destination.

The woman was found on Tuesday night near Zinoa Island, Vouza in Choiseul Province, and northwest of the Solomons capital Honiara, the head of maritime Thierry Nervale told RNZ Pacific.

This is more than 100 kilometres from the Shortland Islands.

Nervale said her body has been transported to Taro Island by the police and medical team.

It is understood the vessel MV Taimareho was carrying passengers from the capital Honiara to West Are Are in Malaita Province last night when it encountered bad conditions.

The Solomon Islands Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre says it only received word of the stricken ship's ordeal late this morning, and its officers are scrambling to launch a rescue operation.

According to the cente, the vessel encountered very rough seas and strong winds whipped up by Cyclone Harold between 2am and 3am this morning - a number of passengers were washed overboard.

In a statement, the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) said the team had been conducting a regular monitoring trip to Nissan Island as part of the TB/HIV program implemented by the Department of Health in collaboration with implementing partners, Catholic Health Services and Save The Children.

“Seven passengers were aboard the boat that went missing, including three health workers, a referred patient from Nissan Health Centre and chaperone, and the boat skipper and assistant crew member.

The boat went missing on Christmas day while returning to Tovu on Totoya Island, south-east of Fiji.

The New Zealand Defence Force was called on to look for the vessel this morning.

The Defence Force deployed a P-3K2 Orion aircraft from Auckland. A Fijian Navy Patrol Vessel also assisted in the search.

Defence Force spokesperson Darryn Webb said it was luck the boat drifted to Totoya Island, and not further out to sea.

Police in Manus say the boat left Manus for Wewak nine days ago but has not arrived at the destination.

Acting Provincial Police Commander Senior Inspector David Yapu is appealing to boat operators traveling between the waters of Manus, Wewak and Madang to keep an eye out on the boat and report to police of its whereabouts.

He said the buai trade has become a big concern as a number of boats have gone missing.

The national disaster and emergency services with NMSA have been alerted to assist with the whereabouts of the missing boat and four people.

The boat lost contact after departing the eastern state of Sabah on Saturday.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said search and rescue efforts were being hampered by bad weather.

The incident coincides with the first day of China's week-long Lunar New Year celebration, which is also marked by ethnic Chinese in Malaysia.

The catamaran boat left Kota Kinabalu on Saturday at 09:00 local time (01:00 GMT) and was heading towards Pulau Mengalum, a popular tourist island 60km (37 miles) west of the city.