Sea Swift called to rescue stranded group on Cap Islet

Sea Swift is committed to the communities we service, and to supporting the remote and regional people of Far North Queensland. Sea Swift is a values driven organisation and, as such, has community and crew safety as a number one priority.

In the early morning of 30 April, Sea Swift crew aboard the Fourcroy vessel, which was mid-voyage in the Outer Torres Strait region, received a call from the Queensland Water Police advising that a group of people, including young children, are stranded in poor conditions on Cap Islet, North West of Yam Island.

Sea Swift rerouted the vessel and set the route to assist the stranded group, which consisted of 16 people including 5 children, the youngest of which was 12 months old.

After sighting the group ashore and small private boats used by the group, the Sea Swift crew dropped anchor on the north side of Cap Islet and prepared the rescue tender for launch.

Members of the crew swiftly boarded the rescue vessel with life vests, food and water and departed the Fourcroy heading for the beach.

After several trips back and forth from the island in rainy, windy and cold conditions, the stranded persons were taken into the vessel’s mess hall, provided with food and water, and were comforted by the crew.

The group was returned safely to Yam Island by the crew of the Fourcroy and the vessel continued on its voyage to deliver essential freight and services to the communities of the Torres Strait.

Sea Swift is immensely proud of the crew’s quick thinking and the actions of the Master to reroute the vessel and head towards the group in need.

“The quick thinking of the Master and his crew once they received the call at 5.30am this morning is a testament to the ability and depth of knowledge of the local area”, stated Chris Pearce, Executive Chairman of Sea Swift. “We are so proud of the crew and are glad the stranded group are now back safely ashore on Yam Island.”

Sea Swift is the largest freight partner of Northern Australian waters and communities and is proud to have serviced the communities of the region for over 35 years.