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10:17AM Wednesday 03 December, 2008

Search for missing deckhand suspended

Published 12:00a.m. 24th July 2008

| Staff reporters


Updated 4:24p.m. 24th July 2008

Search for missing deckhand suspended

Friends retrieve gear from the stranded trawler Miss Melissa at Mooloolaba. Photo: Warren Lynam/177217

The search for a Sunshine Coast trawler crew member missing off Mooloolaba has been suspended because of the rough weather.

Large swells forced some of the boats looking for 32-year-old Mark Wray to return to shore early this afternoon, and the air search has now also been called off. Rescuers will reassess the situation in the morning.

While police say hopes of finding him alive are now slim, the deckhand's friends are refusing to give up hope.

Mr Wray has been missing since last night, when rising two-metre seas drove the trawler Miss Melissa high on to Mooloolaba Beach.

The 10.6-metre boat was heading for Mooloolaba Harbour to shelter from increasing gales and big swells when the accident occurred around 7.25pm.

The missing man was at the helm of the prawn trawler and is believed to have been washed overboard. Two men who were sleeping below deck were able to swim to safety but could not find their crewmate.

Police and fishermen searched for the missing man last night but were forced to stop due to bad weather.

Senior Constable Murray Lyons, of the Sunshine Coast Water Police, told thedaily.com.au that the Mooloolaba Coastguard, Noosa Coastguard, a police vessel from Brisbane and a longline tuna boat, the Teepookana, were involved in the search today.

"Conditions last night and this morning have been atrocious," Sen Cons Lyons said. "With the high winds and rough seas, it's very hard to spot a person in the water."

Police believe Mr Wray may have disappeared from the trawler in three to four metre seas sometime before it went aground.

Sergeant Kyle Bates said there was a gap of about an hour-and-a-half between when the deckhand made a phone call and the trawler beached.

During that time phone calls to the Miss Melissa, including one from Mr Wray’s wife, went unanswered.

“We’ve confirmed he had a number of phone calls on the boat, leading up to about an hour-and-a-half before the boat went aground,” Sgt Bates said.

“The phone calls after that he failed to answer ... which may suggest he may have been overboard by the time they came.”

Hundreds of people turned out in cold and driving rain to see the drama unfold last night.

As fisherman went out to the beached trawler to try to secure it, while a second boat scoured Mooloolaba bay using searchlights.

The stranded boat is believed to be one of about six in a fleet owned by a Sunshine Coast businessman.

The missing man’s best friend, Stefan, who was on the beach, said last night he was worried about him.

“More than anything, I just want to find my mate,” he said.

“I just want to make sure he is okay.”

Fishermen from the Mooloolaba fleet came out as news of the incident spread.

“This is bad,” one said. “I’ve lost too many of my mates out there already.”

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Craig Mitchell said late yesterday that conditions were easing.

He said reported massive swells would not eventuate, at least on-shore.

“It looks like it has stabilised,” he said.

“Strengthening winds are occurring through a trough off the east coast and will maintain swells at a couple of metres.”

Mr Mitchell said rain would continue today, with cool conditions – the noon temperature in Maroochydore yesterday was 13 degrees – but start to improve tomorrow.

Sunshine Coast Daily CoastLife surf forecaster Mike Perry said the swell was 1.2 metres to two metres on the Gold Coast yesterday but was likely to fall rapidly.

On the Sunshine Coast, only 1.5-metre swells at best were hitting open beaches.

Mooloolaba trawler skipper Paul Burnett said yesterday afternoon that the fishing outlook was “pretty crap” due to the heavy swell.

“It will be at least two or three days before we can go out again,” he said.

The highest rainfall recorded in the 24 hours to 9am today was recorded in Maroochydore with 80 millimeters, followed by 69 in Eumundi. Rainfall in other areas included:

Diddillibah: 60

Noosa Heads: 57

Sippy Downs: 55

Nambour: 53

Coolum: 51

Tewantin: 44

Landsborough: 43

> See our weather page for the seven-day forecast, swells and links to live surfcams.

Recent Comments

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Posted by News_Watcher from Redcliffe
on 24 July, 2008 at 8:13 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ed. Having just heard about this incident off the Sunshine Coast; when are the proper procedures going to be followed especially when it comes to keeping a close eye on the weather? Whilst this trawler was heading to shelter; how far out the sea was it. Whilst these trawler operators and crews are in a job that is dangerous, there's no excuse for the crew being asleep. The Bureau issue two warnings yesterday morning - Gale and Ocean Wind warnings. Having commented to previous stories involving boaties, considering my experience from 10 years being in a marine rescue organisation and remembering an occasion where the Brisbane Harbor Master closed Moreton Bay to all shipping - due to severe weather conditions; when are proper measures going to be adopted by those people who venture out on our seas? Perhaps the Miss Melissa should have sought protection around Bribie??
Posted by News_Watcher from Redcliffe
on 24 July, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ed, Appreciating the publication of my response, I note that the Brisbane Water Police are involved in a incident off Peel Island here in Moreton Bay. From my knowledge of Moreton Bay, conditions can change at anytime and even the various currents off Woody Point across to Nudgee Beach and Hays Inlet to Shorncliffe can be a trap for those boaties that are inexperienced. Even Peel Island has a interesting history along with Flinders Reef. Noting that the search is now underway for the skipper, yes I can be critical of this latest incident and I provide this information for your readers.
SECURITE

HIGH SEAS WEATHER WARNING FOR METAREA 10 ISSUED BY THE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF
METEOROLOGY, BRISBANE 0251 UTC 23 July 2008

GALE WARNING FOR NORTH EASTERN AREA
SITUATION At 230200UTC. A trough near 8S146E to developing low 1012hpa near 16S148E to trough 23S154E at 230200UTC. Trough expected to be near 8S146E to 20S153E to low 1004hpa expected
near 22S153E. AREA AFFECTED
Within the area bounded by 17S146E to 16S147S to 16S150E to 23S155E to 24S153E to 17S146E till 231800Z. Area contracting southeast to 22S150E to 20S151E to 20S154E to 26S160E to 26S153.5E 22S150E by 240200Z.
FORECAST
S/SE winds increasing to 34/40 knots within next 6 to 12 hours and also increasing E/NE 34/40 knots east of trough after 231400UTC. Seas becoming rough to very rough on a moderate SE swell.

I particularly note the word "SECURITE"
Posted by realist from yamba
on 24 July, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If fishermen stopped fishing every time a weather warning was issued it would send them broke. Government departments treat commercial fishers as a cash cow and regulate and legislate to take away the basic rights that others in the community enjoy. People who do not have first hand experience of the struggle that fishermen are enduring in the present economic climate should not make unjustified comments
Posted by realist from yamba
on 24 July, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The word "securate" is repeated three times before all weather forecasts are broadcast on marine radio, the forecast issued can have a variable in wind speed and wave height of up to thirty percent with a further warning that wind and waves can be forty percent higher than forecast. Not really what I would call reliable when lives and livelyhoods are at stake. Commercial marine insurance is invalid if the boat leaves port in a strong wind warning this leaves fishermen in port unnecessarily on many occasions
Posted by trawler from Bli Bli
on 24 July, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I agree with "Realist from Yamba" if we came home from sea or didn't go to sea due to weather forecasts we would have all gone broke years ago. Fishermen themselves usually know weather conditions better than most simply through experience and work to that accordingly. It is easy to sit on shore and judge this hard working industry but everyone must realise these are slow moving vessels steaming at top speeds around 9/10 knots in good weather conditions. With conditions like they are now, reduces our speed dramatically and depending on where these vessels are working can take hours if not days to get back to port. We don't have the luxury of high speed boats that we can just hit the throttle and be home in next to no time. Lets just hope and pray for a good outcome.
Posted by News_Watcher from Redcliffe
on 24 July, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Appreciating the update to this story, it would be interesting to find out from what direction the trawler was coming from? Noting radio reports from here in Brisbane, now the wife of the missing skipper will need all of the support from her family and friends.
Posted by realist from yamba
on 24 July, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
To answer News_Watchers question. The trawler was coming from the direction of the ocean.
I recently lost a good friend to the sea when his trawler capsized. I can only hope for a positive outcome to this unfortunate accident.
Posted by Myke_Hunt from Mooloolaba
on 24 July, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Lets pray that this Gentleman and obvious hard worker ( and possibly needed to be given the current awful Fishing industry-market ) can be found safe...my thoughts are for his safety and his Families peace.

Bless Him...
Posted by Eugene from Doonan
on 24 July, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Hey Realist from Yamba, just a few questions, if you can get the info.

How much do you get for a kilo of prawns in Yamba ?

Are the Trawler Operators struggling as they are in Mooloolaba ?

Is $10 a kilo a fair price for the catch ?

Sorry to see this happen here, but I can only wonder why they're out in this sort of a blow.
Posted by fishwife from Mooloolaba
on 25 July, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Having spent many sleepless nights listening to the wind and knowing my husband is somewhere out on the ocean trying to make a living despite the Govt, I just want to send my love to the missing fishermans family. We trust our men to judge the situation correctly, but its a dangerous life and accidents happen. News Watcher, how do you know he was asleep? He could have gone out on deck to check something, and gone overboard miles out to sea. Fishermen are the last true hunter gatherers, they know the dangers, they have all lost friends pitting their wits and skill against the unpredictable sea, and in recent times, for less and less income. More respect please.
Posted by philljen from Bucasia
on 25 July, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
If there is a lesson to be learned from this tragic event it is this: If you ever find yourself in the unfortunate position of having to report someone missing at sea, NEVER indicate to the Marine Safety and Rescue (based in Canberra by the way) either a) that the unfortunate person is in poor health, or b) that he/she is a poor swimmer. This simply gives the search co-ordinator licence to tick the box that may curtail or even suspend the search prematurely! Sad but true. And yes I AM speaking from experience!
Posted by oomy_from_bris from Brisbane
on 25 July, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I know the woman who is the mother of one of his children and all my thoughts and best wishes are with her at the moment.
Posted by Marine_Mate from Wurtulla
on 25 July, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Obviously some people don't realise where their seafood comes from and has never spent time on the water,let alone as commercial fishermen trying to make a living. Have a bit of respect for these brave fishermen. We as a commercial fishing family would like to send our kind regards to (Macca) Family & Friends
Posted by nick_t from geraldton
on 27 July, 2008 at 9:14 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
i wonder how Canberra would feel if it was them in this situation i no my comment was a bit late but he was a good deckie and a really good mate best wishes to his family and freind

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