The crew of the Royal Australian Navy Patrol Boat, HMAS Broome, successfully prevented an environmental and maritime catastrophe off Papua New Guinea recently by providing assistance to a commercial container ship, which had lost power and was drifting towards Ragelapra Reef.
On October 24, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority requested Defence support in aiding the container vessel MV Vega Fynen, which had lost engine power and was drifting towards a charted reef, 100 nautical miles south-east of Port Moresby.
The Armidale Class Patrol Boat, dwarfed by the commercial carrier, kept the ship under tow for six hours until passing the tow line to a commercial tug, better suited for the role.