AN unknown object was responsible for the sinking of a catamaran off Tasmania's East Coast on Friday night, police said.
Two occupants were rescued from the Sea Eagle 5, a 15m catamaran, after it hit the object 15 nautical miles north-east of Maria Island and began taking water just before 9pm on Friday.
The skipper sent out a mayday call, advising that he and one other occupant were launching the life raft and activating their EPIRB distress beacon.
Tasmania Police, in conjunction with AUSSAR and Port Control, co-ordinated the response, deploying a fixed-wing aircraft and the Westpac Police Rescue helicopter to the area as well as the PV Dauntless.
Several other boats were nearby and the skipper of the Annette Margaret headed towards the sinking catamaran, which was seven nautical miles away.
The rescue vessel saw the lights of the sinking catamaran and made contact with the life raft via a hand-held radio.
Both people from the life raft were on the Annette Margaret by 11pm and the rescue vessel arrived at Coles Bay at 5.30am yesterday.
Police said the rescued people were not injured.
The catamaran is now fully submerged with only the top of the mast visible, and its location has been plotted.
The Sea Eagle 5's skipper was debriefed by police, who are working with AUSSAR to determine the cause of the catamaran's sinking.
Sinking of boat probed Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania
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