3 Jun 2022

Taiwan tuna boat stuck on Niue reef

11:25 am on 3 June 2022

A Taiwanese fishing vessel, the FV Chuan I Shin, is stuck on Niue's Beveridge Reef.

The pristine reef is 125 nautical miles south-east of Niue island.

The Niue Government is working with New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre to remove the 11 crew on board, who are all understood to be safe and well.

The FV Chuan I Shin

The FV Chuan I Shin Photo: Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

Beveridge Reef is part of Niue's marine protected area - the Niue Nukutukulea Multiple-Use marine park.

The local met office says weather conditions in the Beveridge Reef area have been fine with clear skies and a swell of 2.5 metres.

The government says safety is paramount, and the priority will be for a rescue operation to save the lives of all the crew.

It says an Air Force Hercules has been directed to Beveridge Reef by the New Zealand National Maritime Coordination Centre.

The Western & Central pacific Fisheries Commission says the Taiwanese-built FV Chuan I Shin is a 24-metre tuna longliner registered to Mao-Chuan Tsai.