WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A ferry with an estimated 50 people aboard has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, rescue authorities said Saturday.

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said it had sent a military Orion plane to assist in the search of an area of ocean approximately the size of Britain. The search is being led by Fiji.

Authorities said the ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on Jan. 18. The journey of 240 (149 miles) was expected to take two days.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran, was first reported missing to them late Friday.

He said the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems. Ashby said people on islands and vessels along the planned route are being contacted to ask if they have seen the vessel.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.</s>Seven survivors from a ferry which disappeared more than a week ago have been found by search and rescue teams in the Pacific Ocean.

The boat was found drifting in the search area on Sunday morning, eight days after the MV Buitraoi ferry, carrying around 50 people, went missing off the coast of Kiribati.

But 43 people are feared dead with the ferry still missing and more than half of the search area already covered.

The crew of a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion plane located the boat two hours into the search on Sunday morning for the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5 metre wooden catamaran.

The New Zealand Defence Force confirmed the seven people found were on board the vessel after an air force plane spotted the small boat.

Authorities believe it was one of two boats carried on the side of the ferry.

All the people who were on board the ferry are thought to be locals.

Efforts are now being coordinated with a fishing vessel 92km away to pick up the survivors.

The FV Lomalo is expected to rendezvous with the survivors on Sunday afternoon, Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander for the NZDF said.

'The Orion will continue to search the area, making every effort to locate any more survivors, while awaiting the rendezvous with the fishing vessel,' Air Commodore Webb added.

The missing ferry, which had 50 passengers on board, was due to arrive in Betio, the country's captial, on January 20 after departing Nonouiti Island.

“The group seem very relieved to have been found when the NZ Airforce Orion dropped supplies, including water and a radio, to them about 10am today,” said John Ashby, senior search and rescue officer of the Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand.

Local authorities said the boat ran aground and underwent repairs to its propeller shaft before it left Nonouti Island.

It has a high frequency radio but it is not known whether it has enough fuel and emergency supplies on board.

The 240km inter-island voyage was due to take two days to complete.

Seven people are on board the small five metre boat and teams from the NZ Orion aircraft have dropped emergency aid including a radio into the water.

A spokesman from the New Zealand Defence Force said they could not confirm whether the people are from the missing ferry.

Crews have attempted to reach communication with the boat but say they have not been able to ascertain its origin.

Rescue efforts are being co-ordinated between New Zealand, Fiji and Kiribati authorities.

The ferry is described as having a dark blue hull and yellow cabin fixed on top.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ) has so far scoured more than half of the possible search area - estimated to be the size of New Zealand.

Radio transmissions have been broadcast along the coastline and contact has been made with each island for sightings.

John Ashby, a senior search and rescue officer with the RCCNZ, said earlier: 'We are doing everything we can to locate this ferry and its passengers.

'We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed. This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey.'

Kiribati is a collection of 33 islands with a population of 110,000 people, with the largest group located 1,500km north of Fiji.</s>Rescuers find nothing after search for missing Kiribati ferry carrying 50 people

A ferry with an estimated 50 people on board has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, rescue authorities say.

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre said it had sent a military Orion plane to assist in the search of an area of ocean approximately the size of Britain. The search is being led by Fiji.

The NZ Air Force said it searched more than 300,000 square kilometres on Saturday and found nothing.

Authorities said the ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for the Kiribati capital of South Tarawa on January 18.

The 240-kilometre journey was expected to take two days.

NZ senior search and rescue officer John Ashby said the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5-metre wooden catamaran, was first reported missing to them late Friday (local time).

He said the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving, which may have contributed to navigation problems.

Ashby said people on islands and vessels along the planned route are being contacted to ask if they have seen the vessel.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.

NZ's search for the ferry was wound up about 5:00pm Saturday (local time) and was scheduled to resume at first light on Sunday.</s>A passenger ferry with 50 people on-board has gone missing in Kiribati and New Zealanders have today joined the search for it.

The MV Butiraoi, a 17.5m wooden catamaran, was reported overdue last night after leaving Nonouiti Island, Kiribati on January 18. It was headed for Betio Tarawa, the largest township in the capital - a 260km journey expected to take two days.

Local authorities began searching for the vessel after it failed to arrive on January 20 as scheduled.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand and the New Zealand Defence Force have joined the search.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb, the Air Component Commander, said a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3K2 Orion aircraft left Auckland at 6am to help in the search following a request last night from the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand.

Webb said the Orion was expected to arrive at the search area around midday.

"We are always ready to play our part at home and in the region to help those in need," he said.

Local authorities said the vessel ran aground and underwent repairs to its propeller shaft before it left Nonouti Island. The boat was equipped with a high frequency radio but it was not known whether there was enough fuel or water on board.

Searchers were looking for a vessel with a dark blue hull and yellow accommodation quarters, with an estimated 50 locals on board.

RCCNZ Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby says the New Zealand Maritime Operations Centre and Kiribati Tarawa Radio were broadcasting for sightings on maritime radio.

Contact was also being made with all islands along the route for sightings.

"We are doing everything we can to locate this ferry and its passengers. We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed. This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey.

"The weather in that part of the Pacific is currently moderate with some swells."</s>A search was under way Saturday for a ferry with 50 people on board that has not been seen for more than a week in the tiny island nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific.

New Zealand search officials, who have been called in to assist Fijian authorities, said the inter-island ferry MV Butiraoi was reported missing late Friday.

The 17.5 metre wooden catamaran left from Nonouti Island for Betio Tarawa in the Kiribati Islands on January 18.

The 260 kilometre voyage was expected to take two days.

"We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed," New Zealand Rescue Co-Ordination Centre officer John Ashby said.

"This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey.

"The weather in that part of the Pacific is currently moderate with some swells."

A New Zealand Air Force Orion plane has been despatched to conduct an aerial search of the route the vessel was scheduled to take.

Kiribati a nation of 33 atolls and reefs with a total population of about 110,000, lies some 3,460 kilometres (2,150 miles) north east of Fiji.</s>A ferry carrying an estimated 50 people is missing in Kiribati, prompting an international search involving New Zealand and Fiji authorities.

The MV Butiraoi, an inter-island passenger ferry, was making a two-day, 240km trip from the island of Nonouti, north to Betio Terawa, the largest township of Kiribati’s capital city.

The ferry left on 18 January and was expected to arrive two days later.

The boat failed to arrive and is still missing seven days later. The vessel was only recently reported overdue, according to New Zealand authorities.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ) announced it had joined the search for the boat on Saturday morning local time, supporting the efforts of Fijian authorities.

New Zealand’s air force has deployed a P3 Orion aerial surveillance aircraft, and the coordination centre is attempting to narrow down the search area.

A local vessel will also begin checking the route between the two islands. Other islands along the ferry’s path have been contacted and local radio is broadcasting to check for sightings. 



The ferry, described as a 17.5m wooden catamaran, had problems with its propeller shaft before departing. 



RCCNZ senior search and rescue officer, John Ashby, said New Zealand was “doing everything we can to locate this ferry and its passengers”.



“We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed,” Ashby said.

“This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey.”



He said the weather was moderate with some swells.

In October, after rescuing a group of three fishermen in Kiribati, Commodore Darryn Webb of the New Zealand air force urged that boats be fitted with proper communications and emergency equipment.</s>A search was under way Saturday for a ferry with 50 people on board that has not been seen for more than a week in the tiny island nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific.

New Zealand search officials, who have been called in to assist Fijian authorities, said the inter-island ferry MV Butiraoi was reported missing late Friday.

The 17.5 metre wooden catamaran left from Nonouti Island for Betio Tarawa in the Kiribati Islands on January 18.

The 260 kilometre voyage was expected to take two days.

"We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed," New Zealand Rescue Co-Ordination Centre officer John Ashby said.

"This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey.

"The weather in that part of the Pacific is currently moderate with some swells."

A New Zealand Air Force Orion plane has been despatched to conduct an aerial search of the route the vessel was scheduled to take.

Kiribati a nation of 33 atolls and reefs with a total population of about 110,000, lies some 3,460 kilometres north east of Fiji.</s>WELLINGTON, New Zealand - Authorities say a ferry with an estimated 50 people aboard has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati.

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre says it has sent a military Orion plane to assist in the search, which is being led by Fiji.

The ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on Jan. 18. The journey of 240 kilometres (149 miles) was expected to take two days.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said Saturday the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran, was first reported missing to them late Friday.

Ashby says the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.</s>Image caption The ferry left the island of Nonouti ahead of a 260km (160 miles) journey to Betio.

Rescuers are searching for a ferry with an estimated 50 people on board after it went missing in the Kiribati Islands.

The MV Butiraoi departed from Nonouti island on 18 January on a voyage that was expected to last two days.

But it was reported missing on Thursday night and officials from New Zealand and Fiji are now working to find it.

The vessel is a 17.5m (57ft) wooden catamaran that transports passengers between the islands.

The Rescue Coordination Centre of New Zealand (RCCNZ), which is assisting with the search, said the ferry left Nonouti ahead of a 260km (160 miles) journey to Betio, which is the country's main port.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption A New Zealand Airforce P3 Orion was deployed as part of the rescue operation

It was expected to arrive on 20 January but the ship, which has a dark blue hull and yellow accommodation quarters, has been missing for seven days.

The RCCNZ said a New Zealand Airforce P3 Orion was deployed as part of the rescue operation.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said: "We are doing everything we can to locate this ferry and its passengers."

"We understand the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before it departed. This may have contributed to problems navigating the journey," he said.

Mr Ashby added that New Zealand Maritime Operations Centre and Kiribati Tarawa Radio station are broadcasting for sightings on maritime radio.

The 33 atolls that make up Kiribati occupy a vast area in the equatorial Pacific. Many of the atolls are inhabited; most of them are very low-lying and at risk from rising sea levels as a result of global warming.</s>Authorities say a ferry with an estimated 50 people aboard has been missing for more than a week off the coast of the Pacific nation of Kiribati.

New Zealand's Rescue Coordination Centre says it has sent a military Orion plane to assist in the search, which is being led by Fiji.

The ferry departed Nonouti Island bound for South Tarawa on Jan. 18. The journey of 240 kilometers (149 miles) was expected to take two days.

Senior Search and Rescue Officer John Ashby said Saturday the MV Butiraoi, a 17.5-metre (57-foot) wooden catamaran, was first reported missing to them late Friday.

Ashby says the vessel underwent repairs to its propeller shaft just before leaving.

Kiribati is a remote, impoverished nation of 33 atolls that is home to about 108,000 people.
Rescuers, including the Royal New Zealand Air Force, search for the Kiribati ferry MV Butiraoi with around 50 people on board after it is declared missing.