A confused radio call turned into a Mayday that was confirmed when a South Korean-registered fishing boat dropped off the radar about 400 nautical miles east of Dunedin.
Maritime New Zealand yesterday released to the Otago Daily Times the Mayday relay message that told New Zealand authorities Oyang 70 had sunk about 4.30am on Wednesday.
The Mayday was relayed from New Zealand trawler Amaltal Atlantis, which yesterday discharged 45 survivors and the bodies of three Indonesian crew members in tearful scenes at Lyttelton.
The Talley's-owned boat was just nine nautical miles - about 45 minutes - from where the 82m-long Oyang 70 capsized and sank.
Amaltal Atlantis first mate Peter Goldsworthy detailed the drama to Tauranga Maritime Radio.
After giving the position of Oyang 70, Mr Goldsworthy told the radio operator that whatever happened to the ship had happened very quickly.
"I believe it has sunk; it's gone down very fast. I had it on the radar but now it's gone," Mr Goldsworthy said.
The radio operator asked Mr Golds-worthy to confirm the Korean ship's position and how he and the six other vessels heading in its direction knew they were responding to a Mayday call.
"Did the vessel issue a distress call on VHF? How do you know it's in distress? Did they issue a call on VHF?"
Mr Goldsworthy replied: "... he was pretty confused and, yeah, I had the target on the radio. I did call up. He was, yeah, pretty confused and calling for help, basically.
"I said, 'Do you have a Mayday,' and he proceeded 'yes, Mayday, Mayday', and since then the vessel has disappeared.
"There is a couple of ... Russian vessels that also heard him on the radio so we are currently headed to his position, over."
Mr Goldsworthy said weather conditions were good, but foggy. There was a 12-knot wind and the sea conditions were "pretty good".
The other boats were about two nautical miles closer than Amaltal Atlantis to the last known position of Oyang 70, Mr Goldsworthy said.
